Fairfield University Magazine - Fall 2017

Citizens of the World

Feels Like Yesterday

The Champions

Global Scholars Summer Program puts students to work in The Gambia, South Africa, and Guatemala.

Fairfield University in words and pictures 1990-2017.

Stags volleyball has been MAAC champion for the past two seasons.

Can they make it three?

Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY

FA L L 2 0 1 7

A New Home for the Dolan School of Business Opening in Fall 2019

Celebrating Fairfield University’s 75th Anniversary Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i ne | fal l 2017 i

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Beach Life Photo by Joe Adams Fairfield students enjoy a sunny day at the Fairfield beach.

On the cover: A rendering of the new Dolan School of Business, which will open in the fall of 2019.

Rendering by The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Fairfield University Magazine Fairfield University Fall 2017 | Volume 40 | Number 2 a.m.d.g.

Editor, Alistair Highet Assistant Editor, Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11 University News Editor, Susan Cipollaro Copy Editor, Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87 Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Jennifer Anderson ’97, MBA ’02 Designer, Nancy (Gelston) Dobos ’91 Photography by: Joe Adams: pages 5, 8, 37 Marcia Arambulo Rodriguez: page 7 Mike Budny: page 10-11, 35 Genevieve Reilly: page 29 Rod Sanford: page 3, 31 -32 Carlisle Stockton: page 9, 33 Fairfield Athletics: 7 Contributed Photos: pages 2, 6, 8, 14-15, 16-19, 36, 42-47 Fairfield University Magazine is published four times (November, March, June, September) during the year by Fairfield University. Editorial offices are located in: Bellarmine Hall, Fairfield University Fairfield, CT 06824-5195 (203) 254-4000, ext. 2526 e-mail: ahighet@fairfield.edu Printed at The Lane Press Burlington, Vermont Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 1

Contents

“ The Fairfield Rising Campaign will ensure that the University meets the needs of today’s students and those of generations to come.”

16

20

by Audra Bouffard

by Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87

Global Scholars Summer Program puts students to work in The Gambia, South Africa, and Guatemala.

Fairfield University in words and pictures 1990-2017.

Citizens of the World

As today’s marketplace becomes increasingly global and multilingual, Fairfield University has launched a summer internship program to help students get ahead of the global curve, particularly those interested in pursuing international or humanitarian work post-graduation.

Pictured above: Nadra Al-Hamwy ’18 and a village girl in The Gambia.

— Wally Halas, Vice President for University Advancement

Feels Like Yesterday

As Fairfield University’s 75th anniversary celebrations draw to a close, we look once more to the pages of The Manor yearbooks for photographs to chronicle the changes, events and enduring traditions that define the Fairfield experience. This third and final installment takes us through the 1990s to the turn of the century and into the new millennium.

Pictured above: Students evacuate during the Fairfield Beach Storm of 1992.

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Fairfieldmagazine UN IVE RSIT Y

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let ter from the presiden t universit y news developmen t

A New Home for the Dolan School of Business

by Alistair Highet

The $40 million, state-of-the-art facility will open its doors to students in the fall of 2019.

14

studen t life

Freedom On the Water

by Eric Mayrhofer ’10

30

The Champions

34

With the Sailing Club, students experience the elements in a way they won’t find on campus.

facult y

World Class

by Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11

by John Torsiello

The Great Courses has selected associate professor of anthropology Scott Lacy, PhD, to teach a course.

Stags volleyball has been MAAC champion for the past two seasons. Can they make it three?

37

donor profile

Michael R. Andrews ’89 Scholarship

Last year was a remarkable season for the Stags. In addition to finishing 18- 0 in the MAAC regular season and then winning the MAAC Championship, the Stags had a 22-match winning streak, the longest such stretch in the nation last season.

38 40 42

gr an ts & gif ts

Pictured above: Megan Theiller ’18 (r) at the NCAA Championship First Round at Michigan State.

Reunion 2017 alumni notes

Profiles:

45 Colin Rigby ’97 A Passion for Education

48 Kathryn Dennen ’15 A Fulbright Scholar Finds Inspiration in Greece Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 3

Letter from the President

“ We are stewards of a long established, time-tested tradition with an obligation to form men and women equipped for a lifetime of learning…”

Send your letters to the editor of Fairfield University Magazine to Alistair Highet at ahighet@fairfield.edu.

Your news could be featured in an upcoming issue of Fairfield University Magazine! Submit your updates through Class Notes within the Online Community and don’t forget to include a photo! Go to fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity.

Dear Friends, We have had a whirlwind of a summer here at Fairfield, and certainly that has been true for my family and me as we have settled into our new home, found schools and activities for the children, all while becoming happily immersed in the life of the University and the broader community.

Moving a family of six is not without its challenges, but we are most excited to be residents of this beautiful town, and very grateful to have been so generously welcomed by all we have encountered.

I knew when I was asked to serve as President, that I was being offered a truly unique opportunity to be part of something most special and important — a Jesuit University, with a reputation for exceptional scholarship and academic rigor, which embraces the Ignatian obligation to nurture and encourage persons of strong character and true integrity. Our legacy here is remarkable, and our dual emphasis — on excellence in all things coupled with an overarching mission to form men and women for others — positions us to be the model of the modern Jesuit, Catholic university.

As I have shared with gatherings of alumni, staff, and faculty over this summer, the world needs what we do. We are stewards of a long established, time-tested tradition with an obligation to form men and women equipped for a lifetime of learning through an integrated and disciplined academic approach which recognizes the importance of cura personalis — developing the mind, the body and the spirit.

Supporting our students, faculty and staff in this endeavor, we are also working to improve our infrastructure. If you had been around the campus this summer the overall impression you would come away with is that Fairfield — in our 75th year — is laying the foundation to be a leading 21st century university. As I write, the expansion of our Barone Campus Center with the brand new Tully Dining Commons is well underway and will open

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this fall; our completely new Nursing and Health Sciences facility is nearing completion, to be home to the Egan School, with a host of new, cuttingedge programs including a doctorate of nursing practice in nurse midwifery and certifications in palliative care to name a few. Additionally, as you will read inside, we are about to break ground on a new facility for the Dolan School of Business.

Building upon our rising national ranking, construction on this innovative facility will begin in the coming months. Once complete, it will host stateof-the-art facilities, including a data analytics lab and an entrepreneurship center with ideation space — all designed to not only benefit our students and faculty but also to foster further engagement with the broader business community.

We also are evolving our organization. First, I am thrilled to welcome, Paul Schlickmann as our new Athletic Director. A Trinity College graduate and basketball player as well as son of a Fairfield ’62 graduate, Paul is the perfect leader to build upon the legacy of Gene Doris and elevate Fairfield athletics. Secondly, we are excited to be advancing our commitment to lifelong learning and professional education in newly emerging, multi-disciplinary fields with the addition of a Vice Provost for Continuing and Professional Studies.

Additionally, as Dr. Donald Gibson moves to the Provost’s office to strengthen our academic oversight and development structure, we have begun a nationwide search for a new Dean of the Dolan School.

Allow me to conclude, in this first letter to you in the Fairfield University Magazine, with my thanks: Thank you for welcoming my wife Suzy, our children Alex, Teddy, Philip and Kit and me into this community; thank you for the trust and faith that you have placed in me; and thank you for all that you do to support and enhance the reputation of Fairfield University. I am grateful to be with you, and I look forward to working with you as our University moves boldly to meet the opportunities of the future.

With very best wishes and utmost gratitude,

Mark R. Nemec, PhD President

Universit y NEWS STUDENT ENGINEERS PITCH SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL TECH FIRMS

Stags Earn Six NCAA Awards for Academic Achievement

Six Fairfield University athletic teams were recognized by the NCAA as the organization announced its annual Public Recognition Awards. The men’s soccer team, the women’s basketball team, the men’s and women’s golf teams, as well as the men’s and women’s tennis teams received the honor for their performance in the classroom.

Last spring, seniors in the School of Engineering (SOE) pitched their senior design projects to their fellow students, professors, and industry mentors such as Precision Combustion, Inc. of New Haven, Conn., ASML of Wilton, Conn., Covidien LP, Northeast Laser & Electropolish of Monroe, Conn., and the Federal Aviation Administration. Among some of the projects was a device that makes drug testing more humane, a system that helps make air traffic control safer and a machine that makes jewelry manufacturing more efficient.

The teams worked for two full semesters and through multiple design phases to develop their plans and in some cases, prototypes. The student teams, from four undergraduate engineering programs (computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering) received

funding for their research and development through the Hardiman-Lawrence research funding endowment and other professional mentors. Student teams had to apply either to the University or to an outside company with a formal proposal for acceptance before beginning research and they were not allowed to use any pre-build kits or plans.

After the presentations the student projects live on in multiple ways. If they were sponsored by an outside organization, that organization will work to complete the actual system and implement it in their process. Some projects need refinement and the SOE will spend another year developing a final working product. Additionally, some students go on to participate in the annual Fairfield StartUp Showcase, with the possibility of investors fully funding their projects to give them market F accessibility. l

NCAA Public Recognition Awards are based on the teams’ most recent multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR), an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally. These six Fairfield teams posted scores in the top 10% of their sport.

Nearly 300 schools placed at least one team on the top APR list. The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years. The APR measures eligibility, graduation, and retention each term. It provides a clear picture of the academic performance of each team in every sport. lF

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Universit y NEWS Alumnus John Flannery ’83 to Lead GE as CEO STUDENTS AID REFUGEES, PARTNERING WITH GLOBAL RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM As students prepared to leave campus for the summer, the Center for Faith and Public Life’s (CFPL) Campus Sustainability grant recipient, Camille Giacovas ’18, launched the Recycle for Refugees Project. Through the project, Giacovas and fellow students Anya Cullen ’17 and Larkin Brown ’18 joined Julie Mughal, associate director of the CFPL, Pejay Lucky, associate director of Residence Life, and others to collect used furniture and home goods from Fairfield students for refugee families.

Over a span of three days, volunteers visited student residences at the beach, townhouses, and residence halls to collect a variety of items including dining tables, chairs, beds, nightstands, desks, lamps, dressers, kitchenware, mattresses, and more.

“At this time of global crisis, the program is an impactful way for students to have a positive effect on the lives of newly resettled refugees in Bridgeport,” stated Mughal.

The 160 refugee families that are being resettled by International Institute of Connecticut, Inc. (IICONN) in 2017, are arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Colombia, Afghanistan, F Iraq, and Ethiopia. l

Fairfield University alumnus John Flannery ’83 has been named CEO of General Electric effective August 1, 2017 and chairman and CEO of the company effective January 1, 2018.

Flannery, a GE veteran of 30 years and current president and CEO of GE Healthcare, succeeds longstanding, 16-year chairman and CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, who will remain as chairman of the Board until he retires from GE in December 2017.

Flannery graduated from Fairfield in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. “My time at Fairfield University was excellent and left me with a lifelong sense of curiosity about the world and a passion for continuous learning and serving others,” he said. “I have had the good fortune to be able to carry the Fairfield story to many places around the world— but in my heart I have never been

far from Loyola three!”

With a focus on corporate markets, accounting, capital markets, economics and marketing, Flannery earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and began his career at GE Capital in 1987 evaluating risk for leveraged buy-outs. He was a leader in GE’s corporate restructuring group before moving into global positions in Latin America, Asia, and India.

As president and CEO of GE Equity, Flannery led the business through a difficult cycle. Leading the Asia Pacific region for GE Capital beginning in 2005, he grew earnings in Japan by 100%, in Korea by 30%, and in Australia by 25%. According to a company issued statement, in his most recent role as president and CEO of GE Healthcare, Flannery has “positioned the $18 billion business for continued success with technology

John Flannery ’83

leadership in core imaging, created digital platforms and solutions, expanded Life Sciences through bioprocess solutions, and added key technology to its cell therapy systems business.”

In the next few months, Flannery said his “focus will be on listening to investors, customers, and employees to determine the F next steps for GE.” l

Fairfield’s Fulbrights Embark on Research Abroad This year, three of Fairfield University’s own are among the elite group to be awarded Fulbright grants to embark on educational experiences abroad.

Kayla Urbanowski ’17 will travel to Brazil to research the foraging and movement activity of a shorttailed fruit bat species. Urbanowski will be taking graduate classes and performing biological research during her time in Brazil. As a cultural ambassador, she hopes to help bridge the gap between the United States and Brazil.

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The recipient of the Flex Fulbright Award, William Vasquez Mazariegos, PhD, associate professor of economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, will return to his home country, Guatemala.

His motivation for applying to the program was based on findings from a previous research project.

“Solid waste disposal has become a major health concern in the developing world,” Dr. Vasquez Mazariegos said. “With my research, I intend to be part of the solution to this ongoing problem.”

Gita Rajan, PhD, a professor of English in the College of Arts and Sciences has been awarded Fulbright Specialist status, an honor that follows on the heels of serving as a consultant to the World Bank last year. The Fulbright Specialist program sends U.S. faculty and professionals to serve as expert consultants on curriculum, faculty development, institutional planning and related subjects at academic institutions F abroad. l

Health Studies Minor Now Largest Interdisciplinary Minor on Campus As the physical footprint of Fairfield’s campus continues to grow with the construction of the University’s new cutting-edge Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies building, so does the number of students interested in pursuing the facility’s hottest minor.

After launching in the fall of 2015 with a cohort of 12 students, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Health Studies program has quickly become the largest interdisciplinary minor on campus. At the end of the spring 2017 semester, the program more than doubled in size with 32 graduating seniors and an additional 60 students expected to complete the minor at the end of

the 2017-18 school year.

The inaugural Health Studies Minor Capstone Symposium that was held at the end of last semester showcased seniors’ independent research projects and highlighted the program’s service learning project, which was conducted in partnership with the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport’s Community Engagement and Food Access Program.

The popularity of the Health Studies minor reflects a world that increasingly demands healthcare professionals. According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to F grow 19% from 2014 to 2024. l

ENGINEERING EMPOWERS LOCAL GIRL SCOUTS

Nearly 60 Girl Scouts filled classrooms at the Bannow Science Center on campus for STEM Day hosted this past spring

by Fairfield University’s student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. Juniors and Cadettes of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut in grades four through eight learned elements of electrical, software, and biomedical engineering, as well as teambuilding in a series of student-run sessions.

The Girl Scouts rotated between four activities: creating a penny battery, a coding session, building a lung replica, and a Lego teambuilding event. The co-presidents of the Society of Women Engineers at Fairfield, Christina Ficaro ’18 and Kathryn Higgins ’18, planned the third annual event to empower younger women to take on roles in the sciences.

SECOND STRAIGHT MAAC SEASON CROWN FOR 2017 BASEBALL The first team since 2012 to win back-to-back MAAC Regular Season Championships, Fairfield baseball capped one of the most successful two-year runs in program history with a 31win campaign this spring. The Stags came within one run of returning to the MAAC Championship Series for the second straight season after winning the conference crown and earning the team’s first-ever NCAA postseason berth in 2016.

On the mound, Head Coach Bill Currier’s squad was led by righthander Gavin Wallace ’18, the New England Pitcher of the Year.

Wallace was one of five All-MAAC honorees from Fairfield, as four additional members of the Stags batting order collected conference laurels. Third baseman Jack Gethings ’19 joins Wallace with First Team All-MAAC honors, while outfielder Drew Arciuolo ’18, catcher Kevin Radziewicz ’18 and designated hitter Troy Scocca ’17 each collected Second Team selections.

FAIRFIELD CELEBRATES BRIDGEPORT HIGHER EDUCATION ALLIANCE EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION WEEK Last spring, the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions (GSEAP) welcomed 400 students, parents, faculty, and staff from the Bridgeport community to campus as part of the Bridgeport Higher Education Alliance Excellence in Education Week.

Fairfield University honored 130 individuals from 10 Bridgeport schools.

GSEAP Dean Bob Hannafin, PhD, and Bryan Ripley Crandall, PhD, GSEAP assistant professor of the practice of curriculum and instruction, and director

of the Connecticut Writing Project – Fairfield, planned the evening in collaboration with school liaisons, principals, and administrators. Nine awards were given to children K-8 and adults including the Peacemaker Award, Mentoring Award, and Parent/Guardian Award. Amy Marshall, chief academic officer at Bridgeport Public Schools, and the Chairman of Bridgeport’s School Board of Education, Joe Larcheveque, were on hand to help give out the awards. Dr. Crandall was the master of F ceremonies for the evening. l

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Universit y NEWS FAIRFIELD STUDENT IS RECOGNIZED AS 2017 NEWMAN CIVIC FELLOW FOR SERVICE Fairfield University student Camille Giacovas ’18 was recently named a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow. Giacovas is one of 273 students across the country who will be a part of the 2017 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows.

An international studies major and humanitarian action minor, Giacovas started the Refugee Youth Mentor program at Fairfield. The after-school program allows refugee students between the ages of 13-18 years old to engage in a number of activities with Fairfield students including workshops, tutoring, college essay assistance, recreational activities, and conversation. The program is sponsored by the Center for Faith and Public Life.

She hopes that the program will become a nationwide model for campus-community collaboration. Giacovas stated, “I envision this program as a seed planted at Fairfield University that will flourish into a nationwide initiative…”

Additionally, Giacovas was awarded a $1,500 Campus

Camille Giacovas ’18

Sustainability grant to expand support for local refugees by collecting used furniture and home goods from Fairfield students.

The Newman Civic Fellowship, named for Campus Compact co-founder Frank Newman, is a yearlong experience emphasizing personal, professional and civic growth. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides a variety of learning and networking opportunities, including a national conference of Newman Civic Fellows in partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

The fellowship also provides fellows with access to exclusive scholarship and postgraduate opportunities.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is supported by the KPMG Foundation and F Newman’s Own Foundation. l

“I envision this program as a seed planted at Fairfield University that will flourish into a nationwide initiative…”

Camille Giacovas ’18

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Fairfield University’s 75th Anniversary exhibit at the Fairfield Museum and History Center.

Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence, University Exhibit at Fairfield Museum In conjunction with Fairfield University’s 75th Anniversary, the Fairfield Museum and History Center recently featured an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia reflecting the University’s origins and ongoing mission entitled, Celebrating Fairfield’s 75th Anniversary: A Proud Past, An Amazing Future.

The exhibit paid tribute to the University’s commitment to Ignatian spirituality with replicas of two statues on campus, set before a backdrop of stained glass windows that form two of the panels of the life of St. Ignatius Loyola in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola.

Celebrating Fairfield University’s greatly expanded physical plant which currently includes approximately 11 dormitories, 15 townhouse units and 26 academic and administrative buildings, the exhibition also

included an architectural diorama of the campus Master Plan, a virtual tour of the campus and a bronze replica of the Stag statue that forms the centerpiece of the “Quad” on campus.

Selected historical photographs from Fairfield University’s Archives and Special Collections were paired with recent photos of life and events on campus, revealing both change and continuity in academics, the campus, student life, athletics, the arts, and the community.

Fairfield University’s MAAC championships and club histories were celebrated with featured memorabilia and photographs, including the men’s basketball 1997 MAAC Trophy, a lacrosse helmet from the Rafferty Stadium dedication, a 1964 Rugby Club photo and depictions of the evolution of Fairfield University’s mascot, F Lucas the Stag. l

Don Gibson Named Vice Provost Don Gibson, PhD, who has served as dean of the Dolan School of Business for the past six years, was named vice provost in the Office of Academic Affairs, beginning Sept. 1.

A professor of management, Dr. Gibson has taught courses in organizational behavior and leadership at Fairfield since 2001.

Most recently, he served as special assistant to the provost throughout several leadership transitions, including the appointment of the University’s new President.

Gibson oversaw the Dolan School’s expanding programming and increased national recognition.

“I am delighted that Don will

now bring his leadership and energy to the provost’s office, as we continue to deepen, refine, and expand our academic programming,” said Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Christine Siegel, PhD. Said Dr. Gibson: “I look forward to joining with the provost to enhance Fairfield’s stand-out strengths, its excellent faculty and academic programs.”

Mark Ligas, PhD, currently associate dean of the Dolan School, will serve as interim dean. A national search for the permanent Dolan School dean F will begin in the fall of 2017. l

NEW REMEDIAL READING AND REMEDIAL LANGUAGE ARTS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS LAUNCHING AT FAIRFIELD Fairfield University has launched a new Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts certification program for teachers working with students with dyslexia and other reading differences.

The program, also known as the 102 certification, is the only International Dyslexia Association (IDA) accredited program in Fairfield County and the only program in the County to offer the 102 certification in the context of a master’s degree. Fairfield’s Director of Reading and Language Development Jule McCombesTolis, PhD, presented the program to the Connecticut State Board of Education this past summer and

received unanimous approval.

The program will be housed within the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, and will feature dedicated training and supervision in assessment and intervention practices designed to serve the needs of students with dyslexia. Coursework will be aligned with standards of both the International Literacy Association (ILA) and the IDA. An endowed fellowship component of $4 million will provide tuition scholarships and job-embedded literacy coaching support to select candidates nominated by urban and priority partner school F districts. l

STAGS SOFTBALL SURGES TO 2017 MAAC CHAMPIONSHIP After winning three of their final four regular season games to qualify for the MAAC postseason, the 2017 Fairfield softball team surged all the way to the MAAC Championship and a return to the NCAA postseason. The Stags’ second conference title and NCAA appearance in the past three seasons saw Fairfield stand toe-to-toe with #18 LSU —an eventual Women’s College World Series participant—before falling 2-1 in a game broadcast live by the ESPN family of networks.

Head Coach Julie Brzezinski’s team powered through the MAAC Championship on the arm of Destinee Pallotto ’18. The junior pitcher won all four games of Fairfield’s perfect run through the tournament, including three straight shutouts and her first career no-hitter in the title-clinching win over Monmouth. Pallotto, who was selected as the MVP of the MAAC Championship, also took to the circle in Baton Rouge in the NCAA postseason. She ceded just two unearned runs on three hits against LSU, taking the hard-luck loss to the Tigers.

The Stags’ offense was powered this season by a pair of Second Team All-MAAC selections. At the top of the lineup, Amanda Ulzheimer led the Stags and all conference freshmen with a .342 batting average.

Stag Standout StudentAthletes Join the Pros Two Fairfield student-athletes have signed professional contracts to continue their playing careers.

Right-handed ace Gavin Wallace ’18 of the Stags’ baseball team was drafted and signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and women’s basketball standout Kelsey Carey ’17 will travel to Ireland to begin her professional career with the Griffith Swords Thunder.

The New England Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-MAAC selection, Wallace was selected in

the 15th round of the MLB FirstYear Player Draft by the Pirates.

Kelsey Carey heads to Ireland to join the Griffith Swords Thunder of the Super League.

She will also compete with the first-ever women’s basketball team at Griffith College, where she will pursue a master’s degree in international business.

Carey graduated from Fairfield this past May with a degree in marketing from the Dolan School F of Business. l

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Universit y NEWS Fairfield’s First Graduating Class of 1951 Honored at 2017 Commencement During Fairfield University’s 67th Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 21, the Class of 1951 — the University’s very first class — was honored as part of Fairfield’s ongoing 75th Anniversary celebrations.

The nine men representing their class — many veterans of World War ll — donned robes and sashes to watch as the Class of 2017 received their degrees. Among those members of the first class present was Raymond Longden, JD, recognized by the Guinness World Book of Records as having “refereed more football games than any other referee in America,” for officiating well over 2,000 games spanning all levels of the sport, including professional, college, prep school, high school, and Pop Warner.

Mr. Longden’s advice to the Class of 2017: “Now you have the tools to achieve your goals, it’s up to you to use those tools and develop vital drive. You have to have vital drive to succeed in today’s world, so whatever your mission is, whatever you’re called for, develop the drive to do it.

Persevere, persevere, persevere.”

Fairfield’s Former Interim President Lynn Babington, PhD, RN, presided over the day’s events.

In reflecting over the changes that the University has witnessed during its history, she said: “Seventy-five years ago it was intended as a University for men...now, most of our students are women, and

indeed, you have before you the first woman — and the first lay person — to have ever served in the Office of the President.”

Undergraduate speaker, University President Emeritus Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J., spoke to the graduates during the morning’s undergraduate Commencement exercises about the importance of conviction and discernment. “As you look around you, I’m sure you realize how hard it is for people your age, or any age, to develop values to live by,” he said. “It takes not only courage, but also informed conviction, to stand for contrary values of human dignity and human solidarity, and it is this informed conviction that we hope we have helped you to develop here at Fairfield.”

During the undergraduate ceremony, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree was given to Rev. Sean Carroll, S.J., who is the founding executive director of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), which started in 2009 to serve migrants who travel between Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora (Mexico). In 2015, the KBI provided nearly 43,000 meals, shelter for 482 migrants, and medical assistance for over 3,500 sick and injured persons.

Dianne Dwyer Modestini, an internationally renowned conservator of Old Master and 19th Century paintings, received an honorary Doctor of Humanities

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Members of Fairfield’s First Graduating Class with Fairfield’s Former Interim President Lynn Babington, PhD, RN.

Among Fairfield’s newly minted alumni are Brianne Zelko (left) and Autumn Young (right).

The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport opened the undergraduate ceremony with the invocation.

CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Juanita James, received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the graduate ceremony.

A hearty congratulations for 2017 Stag grads.

“ You have to have vital drive to succeed in today’s world, so whatever your mission is, whatever you’re called for, develop the drive to do it. Persevere, persevere, persevere.”

Raymond Longden, JD

Heather Petraglia, assistant dean and director of undergraduate programs (top) with Alpha Sigma Nu’s 2017 Undergraduate Teacher of the Year, Michelle Leigh Farrell, PhD, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese, at the undergraduate exercises.

degree. Modestini launched the Samuel H. Kress Program in Paintings Conservation in 1989, to guide students through the restoration of paintings, including using many technological advances.

An honorary Doctor of Laws degree was given to Stephen Braga ’78, who was named one of the “Top Ten Criminal Defense Attorneys in the United States”

by U.S. Lawyer Rankings and who, along with his wife Kathy, runs a law firm dedicated to serving the underserved and underrepresented within the legal system.

Later Sunday afternoon, the graduate ceremony speaker Juanita James, the president and CEO of Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, spoke of the importance of service to others.

“All of you have the power to transform our society for the better,” said James. “You have chosen vocations that have the power to turn things around, to speak out for and act for what’s right, and to bring out the best in others.”

James has received numerous awards as a result of her leadership and volunteer service, including being named one of the NAACPs “100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut” and the 2012 Stamford Public Education Foundation’s “Excellence in Education” award.

Also at the graduate ceremony, Patricia Eck, C.B.S., received an honorary Doctor of Science degree. Sr. Eck was elected Congregation Leader of the Sisters of Bon Secours in 2009.

As Congregation Leader, she is responsible for ministries in France, Great Britain, Ireland, Peru, Africa, F and the United States. l

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A New Home for the Dolan School of Business The $40 million, state-of-the-art facility will open its doors to students in the fall of 2019.

by Alistair Highet

F

airfield has witnessed

an unprecedented expansion of new facilities in recent years, including the new Rafferty Stadium, a significantly modernized Leslie C. Quick Jr. Recreational Complex, a new Egan School of Nursing and Health Sciences building, and an expansion and enhancement to the John A. Barone Campus Center, to name just a few of the projects completed or on stream.

Now, it has recently been announced that the Dolan School of Business will get a new home — a beautifully designed, curving building with broad open interior expanses and high glass windows that look out onto Bellarmine pond to the south. The new building will be placed behind the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, and will open out

to views of the lawn in front of the DiMennaNyselius Library to the north.

The $40 million facility is scheduled to open in the fall of 2019. The University was expected to proceed with the filing of the required applications for local approval in August, with hopes to break ground in the coming months.

“This new building will exemplify what the Dolan School has become: a leading center for business education, forming students to be ethical leaders for a global future,” said University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD. “It will be the nexus for our students, faculty, and staff, allowing them to collaborate in an environment that rivals the most state-of-theart facilities for its technology and cutting edge spaces.”

As is true of the other new facilities that

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are on track or have recently been completed, the new Dolan School addresses some of the priorities that were established by the University’s current strategic plan Fairfield 2020: The Way Forward. The plan called for new and innovative learning spaces, featuring “significant upgrades to classroom facilities — including furniture, lighting, and sound systems.” At the same time, the plan stressed that the University needed to create “new gathering spaces on campus,” to allow students and faculty “to interact comfortably and exchange ideas that contribute to collective solutions to achieve our shared goals.”

The new building will meet both of these needs: It combines increased classroom space and smart classroom technology, with beautiful open spaces for shared learning where students can mingle, socialize, and collaborate.

“This new building will exemplify what the Dolan School has become: a leading center for business education, forming students to be ethical leaders for a global future.”

Mark R. Nemec, PhD, University President

FAIRFIELD RISING CAMPAIGN BEATS EXPECTATIONS, EXTENDED TO $210 MILLION

The building will include modern simulated trading in a dynamic and interactive learning environment, a big data analytics lab, an entrepreneurship center with ideation lab space, a gaming lab, active learning and case-based classrooms, and more. At 80,000+ square feet, it will also feature 16 technologyenriched classrooms, collaborative meeting spaces for students and faculty, as well as a new event space. The building’s highlights will be innovative spaces including a one-button studio, simulation room, behavioral research lab, and the University’s Center for Applied Ethics.

As one of the highest ranked business schools in the country, the Dolan School has been named among the best undergraduate business schools in the United States and the best in Connecticut according to Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, and US News & World Report. College Factual ranks

Renderings of the Dolan School project that will open its doors in the fall of 2019. At left, the building’s future exterior, south-side elevation. Above, an interior view of the new building’s lower level.

Renderings by The S/L/A/M Collaborative

its accounting, finance, and marketing disciplines in the top 25 nationally. Additionally, the Dolan School is one of only 5% of schools nationwide accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Last year, Dolan School graduates achieved a 96.7% placement rate within sixmonths after graduation.

The Dolan School of Business was named in 2000 in honor of media and communications pioneer Charles F. Dolan, founder of F Cablevision and Home Box Office. l Visit Fairfield.edu/moderncampus to learn more.

The new $40 million Dolan School of Business building is one of several that are part of the University’s Master Plan supported by the Fairfield Rising Campaign.

Fairfield Rising — the largest capital campaign in the history of the University — has exceeded its $160 million financial target ahead of the projected timeline.

As a result, the University has reset the goal by $50 million, bringing the new target to $210 million with an estimated completion date of December 2018.

“We are humbled and honored by the dedication and commitment of our alumni, parents, and friends,” said Dr. Nemec, President of Fairfield University. “The extension of the Fairfield Rising Campaign ensures that Fairfield continues its rise as the modern Jesuit Catholic University, building a community animated by innovative teaching and learning, so that we may continue to best serve the world as it is.”

“The Fairfield Rising Campaign will ensure that the University meets the needs of today’s students and those of generations to come,” said Wally Halas, vice president for University Advancement.

Fairfield Rising was launched in October of 2015. The major “pillars” of the campaign include raising the endowment for student aid; supporting faculty and research; fueling the University’s athletics programs by investing in student-athletes, coaches, and facilities; support for student programs and resources that enhance student life and wellness; and support for the University’s daily operations.

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Freedom On the Water With the Fairfield University Sailing Club, students experience the elements in a way they won’t find on campus.

by Eric Mayrhofer ’10

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I

n the l ast weeks of au tumn just before finals, it’s not uncommon to see students burning off tension at the RecPlex, or sipping coffee to bolster themselves for late evenings of study. Meanwhile, the Fairfield University Sailing Team finds respite from the semester’s stress on the water.

Usually the team practices in the afternoon four days a week; however, on one special November evening they prep their boats to launch for a nighttime sail – an endof-semester tradition like Midnight Breakfast or the University’s holiday tree lighting, except you won’t find it anywhere on campus.

They sail their boats in a protected inlet not far from the University, with lights on the rigging so they can see their sails. Then, beneath the darkening sky, they take in a view like this: a quiet cove; their rocking boats; the blue herons, deer and foxes they might spy on the shore; the glow of the sails from other boats slicing up into the night.

“It’s therapeutic,” said Ryan Carlucci ’18, the team’s secretary, “to take a break from school and be out on the water for a couple hours a day.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” added Dave White, the team’s volunteer coach. “They love getting out there with nature. It’s healthy. It’s freedom.”

Of course, there’s more to the sport than relaxation and the view. Lillian Vincens ’19, the team’s captain, said, “I’ve learned leadership skills that without sailing I wouldn’t have. Sailing’s allowed me to use my weekends to explore the waterways of New England.”

Then there’s racing: From September to Thanksgiving and from March to April, the team’s 20 men and women use their Flying Junior dinghies, Lasers, Hobie catamaran, small keel Ynglings and five powerboats to prepare for regattas up and down the region.

Some of those include Fordham University’s Jesuit Open on Long Island Sound, in which the Fairfield team is one of only two from New Left: Sailing Team students command Grand Banks 32 trawler yachts at Captain’s Cove Seaport in Bridgeport, Conn.

“Once the race is over, and often during the races, everyone is friendly. There’s a lot of camaraderie between sailors, even off the team.” ryan carlucci ’18

Above: 2016-2017 sailing team. (l-r) The Thomas Astram SHU ’19, Graham Hughes SHU ’20, Jolleen Roberti ’19, Maribeth Mason ’19, Noelle Kelly SHU ’16, Lillian Vincens ’19, Jordan Greco ’19, Harrison Morris ’18, Rebecca Rutkiewicz SHU ’19, Kelsey LaForest ’17, and Ashley Schingo ’19.

England. Throughout the season, they go head to head with top tier programs from Ivy League schools, Olympics-qualifying athletes and collegiate teams from around the world.

The accompanying challenge and excitement are as personal as they are physical.

“You have to believe in the decisions you’re making,” Lillian said. “Everybody makes mistakes on the course, but you can’t let it affect your ability to trust your intuition.” Just like the wind is always changing on the water, “you always have to leave the last race behind and use a completely new strategy.”

And speaking of wind, the sailors also have to keep in mind that sailing is completely vari-

able based on what the wind decides to do any given day or hour. “On high wind days,” Ryan said, “sailors are challenged to keep themselves cool and collected in high-pressure situations where scores of other sailors are speeding in close quarters. On low wind days, you have to be patient, think ahead, calculate every move made in the boat.”

But then, in the blink of an eye, the race is done. What then? Ryan said, “Once the race is over, and often during the races, everyone is friendly. There’s a lot of camaraderie between sailors, even off the team.”

It’s that camaraderie that has helped Fairfield’s team thrive in recent years. Founded in the 1970s, the sailing team — one of 25 club sports on campus — went dormant in the 1990s until Coach White reinvented it in 2011 as a team that would practice jointly with sailors from Sacred Heart University. Since then, the two groups have continued to sail against each other, but on special occasions have also joined forces. In fall 2013, the Fairfield and SHU teams banded together to sail a Tripp 37 at the Storm Trysail Foundation’s Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta at Larchmont Harbor, the largest intercollegiate regatta in the world. Some boats sustained shredded headsails and faulty equipment in the day’s rough weather, but the allied teams worked in tandem and emerged unscathed.

Dave said they also build new relationships by co-sponsoring events like the Catholic Cup, an eastern seaboard regatta for high school sailors. “It’s a form of friendly outreach,” he said, “but it also puts Fairfield on the map for potential students who are serious about the sport.”

Sailing — the unpredictable winds, the changing tides, the prospect of the open sea not so far away — helps give these students perspective on the demands of everyday life.

For everyone on the team, White said, sailing F at Fairfield “opens up the world for them.” l

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Aura Pineda ’18 Guatemala

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Nadra Al-Hamwy ’18 The Gambia

CITIZENS OF THE WORLD GLOBAL SCHOLARS SUMMER PROGRAM PUTS STUDENTS TO WORK IN THE GAMBIA, SOUTH AFRICA, AND GUATEMALA

by Audra Bouffard

W Sydney Williams ’19 South Africa

hen international studies and politics major Nadra Al-Hamwy ’18 traveled to the tiny West African nation of The Gambia for her summer internship, she was shocked to hear a group of young village girls singing the lyrics to a popular Miley Cyrus song.

“It is amazing how globalized our world is becoming,” Al-Hamwy reflected on the experience.

“We really are all more similar than we think.”

As today’s marketplace becomes increasingly global and multilingual, Fairfield University has launched a summer internship program to help students get ahead of the global curve, particularly those interested in pursuing international or humanitarian work post graduation.

Introduced in October 2016, the Global Scholars Program is a joint initiative between the International Studies and the Latin American and Caribbean Studies programs, that offers students four- to ten-week summer

internships with non-profit organizations located in the Global South.

Aligned with the University’s mission to develop global citizens, the program encourages young men and women to be at home in the world and to confidently engage in any cultural circumstance. “The goal of the program is to increase student engagement with less commonly known cultures and languages, while providing a more diverse pool of students with access to exciting learning opportunities in interesting places,” explained Terry-Ann Jones, PhD, associate professor of sociology and anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences, and director of the University’s International studies program.

The program, originally conceived in 2014 by the late Gisela Gil-Egui, PhD, was awarded a two-year grant by the U.S. Department of Education to pilot partially funded internships in the Global South during the summer of 2017. The short-term nature of the internships

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Clockwise, from upper left: Sydney Williams ’19 outside the Mandela House Museum in Soweto; Williams leads a mask making craft project with fourth grade students at a local school; a pride of lions relaxes in the shade at Johannesburg’s Lion and Safari Park.

and tracking students’ progress, to traveling into the various townships and coordinating self-esteem building exercises with the local children. Her downtime was just as varied and packed with cultural visits to the Apartheid Museum, Nelson Mandela’s home, and the Lion and Safari Park where she spent the afternoon playing with tiger cubs, yet, her favorite part of her travels was witnessing the remarkable growth of the children supported by The Tomorrow Trust agency.

“I have worked with non-profit organizations before but have never seen one that yields such tangible progress in such a short period of time,” Williams said. “The fire that I saw in the eyes of my co-workers only further motivated me to explore career opportunities in the non-profit sector.” is ideal for students with heavy curricular and extra-curricular time constraints during the regular school year, as well as students who are otherwise unable to study abroad for an entire semester.

S

ydney Williams ’19, a studentathlete volleyball player, was one of the first 10 students to participate in the program, working behindthe-scenes at The Tomorrow Trust, a South African non-profit dedicated to supporting the development of orphaned children.

In Johannesburg, a city she described as “constantly in motion,” Williams’ responsibilities ranged from making care packages

A

few thousand miles north of Williams, Al-Hamwy was on an inspirational journey of her own on the sultry coast of The Gambia.

While interning in Lamin Villiage, she fell in love with the mission of Starfish International, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Gambian girls through advanced education and service learning opportunities.

After starting each day with an early

Right, from top to bottom: Nadra-Al Hamwy ’18 (far left) poses for a silly photo with the women and workers at Starfish International; Gambian twin girls share a smile in Lamin Village.

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morning walk around the village and a home cooked breakfast featuring the most flavorful mangoes she has ever tasted, Al-Hamwy dedicated her time to tutoring local girls and boys in a variety of subjects before working on her own projects, which involved managing the organization’s social media and producing a series of promotional documentaries. While her off-duty adventures included swimming the shores of Lebayto Beach, participating in a traditional Koriteh Day celebration for the end of Ramadan, browsing the jewelry at Brikama Craft Market and traveling to the capital city of Banjul to purchase fabric for her Gambian naming ceremony, the highlight of Al-Hamwy’s Global Scholars experience was working with the girls in her program.

“I went to The Gambia expecting to teach, but the girls ended up teaching me so much more,” Al-Hamwy said. “Living in The Gambia has pushed me toward self-discovery and taught me to be more confident, as well as more understanding of cultures other than my own.”

S

imilar to Al-Hamwy, Fairfield senior Aura L. Pineda ’18 embarked on her own journey of self-discovery when she selected her home country of Guatemala as the location for her internship.

The organization she worked for was dedicated to the socioeconomic development of rural areas located within the city of Totonicapán, an issue very near to her heart.

“I moved to the U.S. about four years ago but I haven’t forgotten where I came from,” Pineda said. “I have always been passionate about Latin America, but I am also concerned about the socioeconomic and political situation of the regions where social injustice prevails.”

A stark contrast from the Guatemalan town she grew up in, Pineda discovered that the indigenous and Mayan cultures were much more predominant in the city of Totonicapán, a place where women wear traditional Mayan dress, the sounds of Marimba fills the air, and poverty is a fact of life.

“When I moved to Totonicapán, I felt like a foreigner, and it was a very weird feeling because I am Guatemalan,” she said. “I encountered the socioeconomic reality of the country face-to-face, and the experience I had was not ‘culture shock,’ but was rather lifeshocking. I realized there is so much I need to learn about the country I grew up in.”

As part of her role supporting the director of business development for CDRO (The Coordination for the Rural Development of the West), Pineda would take public transportation then walk a few miles to visit the indigenous communities where CDRO offers support. Despite the poverty of the families she visited, she was moved by their generosity and welcoming spirit. “[The people of Totonicapán] are a beautiful people who inspire you to be a better human being and value the opportunities we have and they do not,” she said. “This internship proves that it is not enough to study theory in the classroom, but that it is necessary to directly face the reality of poor nations to understand the roots of their social issues. I am grateful to the CDRO and the Global Scholars Program for firming up my social justice career path at Fairfield.”

While the students are appreciative of the inspirational experiences and cultural exposure they gained as part of the program, they are not the only Fairfield community members grateful for the opportunities their internships provided.

“Through the students’ experiences, we have been able to see the manifestation of the program’s fundamental goals, and we are delighted that the students are gaining even more than we had hoped for in terms of cultural exposure, as well as the incorporation of this experience into their short-term research plans and long-term career aspirations,” Dr. Jones echoed.

While four Global Scholar locations are currently available for the summer of 2018, the program aims to expand its geographic reach and include new locations in Asia during future semesters.

“Right now, the program is in its infancy, but we dream that it will get bigger and offer more opportunities across the globe,” said International Studies Associate Director Anita Deeg-Carlin, who facilitates the program alongside Dr. Jones and economics professors Dina Franceschi, PhD, and William Vasquez Mazariegos, PhD. “We are excited to offer these internships to our students and look forward to seeing how they incorporate their experiences back into the F fabric of the Fairfield community.” l

Clockwise, from top: A tire swing hangs from a tree outside a storage facility in Hobbitenango, Antigua Guatemala; Aura L. Pineda ’18 wears a traditional Guatemala dress as a guest at her host mom’s sister’s wedding; CDRO employees gather together in the organization’s main office.

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Fairfield University in words and pictures 20 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Feels Like Yesterday

by Jeannine (Carolan) Graf ’87

As Fairfield University’s 75th anniversary celebrations draw to a close, we look once more to the pages of The Manor yearbooks for photographs to chronicle the changes, events, and enduring traditions that define the Fairfield experience. This third and final installment takes us through the 1990s to the turn of the century and into the new millennium.

1990-2017

Fairfield cheerleaders from the 2001 yearbook.

For more information, and to engage with our interactive timeline of Fairfield history, go to www.fairfield.edu/75.

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Nostalgia for the Nineties It’s easy to be nostalgic about the 1990s — a lot of good things were happening. The U.S. economy was strong and growing. Violent crime rates were dropping dramatically. With the

1991 launch of a single site on the World Wide Web, the digital age was up and running. From Seinfeld and The Sopranos to hip hop and Nirvana, American culture was vibrant and varied.

“The Quick Center” A lot of good things were happening at Fairfield University during the 90s too, beginning with the opening of the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The first season of the $7.5 million facility was lauded as a cultural high point in a New York Times end-of-year review published on December 30, 1990. In the article, University spokesman Murray Farber described the new Quick Center as “a valuable asset, both for the community and for the education of our students — tomorrow’s connoisseurs of the arts.”

Boasting a state-of-the-art 750-seat theatre with perfect acoustics, an intimate 120seat experimental “black box” theatre, and a 2,000-square-foot art gallery, the Quick Center remains a cultural hub not just for Fairfield’s campus, but for all of Fairfield County. More than 40,000 “intellectually hungry and perpetually curious” audience members of all ages and backgrounds flock to an eclectic mix of performances, films, lectures and art exhibits each year.

Egan Chapel The years 1990 and 1991 heralded two milestone events in Jesuit history: the 450th anniversary of the founding of the Society of Jesus in 1540, and the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Ignatius in 1491. To mark these milestones, a worldwide Ignatian Year celebration began in the fall of 1990 and ended the following summer on July 31, the feast day of St. Ignatius.

At Fairfield University, the highlight of the Ignatian Year was the completion of the new Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola. On December 6, 1990, Bishop Edward Egan of the Diocese of Bridgeport concelebrated the chapel’s dedication Mass with 40 Jesuit priests.

The Campus Ministry Center, named for Pedro Arrupe, S.J., is located on the floor below the chapel. Since 1990, it has been a magnet for students of all faiths interested in exploring

their spirituality and discovering what it means to be a person of faith in this world. Retreats, community service projects, social justice programs, and interfaith ecumenical programs operate out of the Center.

In the 90s, a group of Fairfield students originated a service program that ministered to children whose parents had HIV/AIDS — the first and only program of its kind in the country. Cardboard City, a social justice event in which students slept outside the Campus Center in boxes to draw attention to the plight of the homeless, was a familiar annual sight on campus each fall. And the annual Hunger Cleanup, in which Stags joined thousands of undergrads from hundreds of colleges across the country for a national day of community service, continues to this day.

right:

A 90’s Stag enjoys the beach.

The Egan Chapel from the 1996 yearbook. far right: Female student in a computer lab from the 1996 yearbook. middle:

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First-Year orientation games from the 1991 yearbook.

For more information on anniversary events, and to engage with our interactive timeline of Fairfield history, go to www.fairfield.edu/75

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above:

Clam Jam from the 1994 yearbook.

Billy Joel giving the keynote speech at commencement from the 1991 yearbook. right:

Big Shot The rolling hills of Fairfield’s bucolic campus came alive with the sound of great music during the 90s, thanks to notable concert performances by Melissa Etheridge, 10,000 Maniacs, and Squeeze, to name a few. But only one musician received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Fairfield and then returned five years later to perform on stage at the Quick Center: Billy Joel.

Controversy surrounded the selection of Joel as 1991 Commencement speaker after

a philosophy professor denounced his song “Only the Good Die Young” as anti-Catholic.

Fairfield’s President at the time, Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., defended the choice, praising Joel for his commitment to many important causes including the environment and teen suicide prevention.

Acknowledging that he never graduated from high school and had not gone to college, Joel made light of the controversy in his speech, admitting that when first approached

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to deliver the Commencement address “… my initial reaction was not too dissimilar to a certain philosophy professor who’s on the faculty here.” He then went on to share with the Class of ’91 the life lessons he learned at “the University of Rock and Roll.”

In 1996 Joel returned to Fairfield University to conduct a “Master Class” in which he performed and held a Q&A session for an enthusiastic Quick Center audience.

Cheers for the Cheapie If you were a Fairfield undergrad during the 90s, you may have relied on the “Cheers and Boos” section of The Mirror to gauge the social climate on campus. If you were a resident of Kostka or Claver during this time, you probably told people you lived in “The Orient” (because those dorms were located on the fareast corner of campus). And if you lived in the Quad, you were most likely a late-night patron of the student-run deli that was tucked into a corner of the ground floor of Gonzaga Hall.

The least expensive menu item at the deli achieved cult status among hungry cashstrapped Stags burning the midnight oil: the cheapie. Beloved mostly for its price point,

Fairfield lore holds that the cheapie originated in the 80s as a roll with just lettuce and tomato.

It cost $1.00 and if you ordered a “cheapie with cheese,” the cheese cost extra.

By 1990, the basic cheapie had evolved to include cheese, and the price had increased accordingly. This change was not well-received at first, judging by the “Cheers and Boos” section of an October 1990 issue of The Mirror which gave a Boo “to only getting two slices of cheese on your cheapie from the deli…we’re paying $1.50 now kids, come on…” Still, the iconic cheapie remained popular and in the 1995 Manor yearbook, students looked back fondly on “midnight cheapie runs.”

The Levee In 1995, a new campus pub opened. It’s name, The Levee, references the Don McLean song, “American Pie,” which campus folklore claims he wrote in a Regis Hall dorm room.

This myth has long been debunked, but the legend — like the bar — remains.

At its grand opening during Senior Week 1995, The Levee served its very first beer to Fr.

Kelley. This is not a legend — the moment is immortalized behind the bar in a framed photo of Fr. Kelley paying for his Budweiser draft.

Senior Mug Night, a weekly tradition at The Levee, began with dollar drafts and pizza for members of the senior class. It continues to this day, and is a privilege that underclassmen look forward to.

Stags vs. Tar Heels Fairfield University won the MAAC men’s basketball crown in 1997 and earned an automatic bid to the NCAAs. According to The Mirror, Fairfield coach Paul Cormier hoped their first-round NCAA game against number oneranked University of North Carolina would “be close so that ‘CBS would have to switch to Winston-Salem’ to show the whole country what the boys from Connecticut were doing.”

Cormier’s wish came true: the number 16-ranked Stags played so well that Carolina

didn’t gain full control until the final minutes of the game. The broadcasters took notice and the Fairfield-UNC matchup became the nationally televised game for its entire second half. Cormier’s team made a big impression on college hoops fans across the country, and Fairfield students traveling on spring break were able to tune in from their vacation destinations to watch the Stags force the Tar Heels to prove their #1 ranking.

top:

Stag fans in their dorm from the 1993 yearbook. middle: Fr. Kelley (l) at The Levee opening. bottom: Shannon Bowman ’97 of the MAAC championship winning men’s basketball team in 1997.

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above left:

MAAC Championship Winning Lady Stags on the court in 1998. above right: 14 Fairfield University alumni lost their lives on September 11, 2001 (top).

An on-campus memorial, situated in the front of Fairfield University’s Alumni House, includes a section of a steel beam that was once part of the original World Trade Center in New York City (bottom). right: Stag fans in the stands from the 1999 yearbook. opposite page top:

9/11 candlelight vigil.

Barone Campus Center renovations from the 2001 yearbook. bottom: Fr. Kelley turning the Office of the President over to Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J. middle:

The Year of the Lady Stags Four Fairfield University women’s sports teams won MAAC titles in 1998: soccer, basketball, volleyball and tennis. It was the second straight MAAC title for the women’s soccer team, and their first NCAA appearance. They lost to UConn in round one, but won their third straight MAAC crown the

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following year. Coincidentally, the women’s basketball team also faced UConn in their first round of NCAA play. In volleyball’s first NCAA appearance, the team fell to Ohio State but climbed back to the top of the MAAC again in 1999.

Y2K In the fall of 1999, Fairfield University informed students that it would begin transitioning from the traditional lottery system for course selection to an online registration process for the spring 2000 semester. The Mirror predicted that the new process would “bring Fairfield into the twenty-first century and enable students a faster and easier way to register.”

During this transition, Fairfield also formed a Y2K committee that was working hard to avoid the potentially massive technical glitch, or “Y2K bug,” which threatened to hit just as the clocks chimed in the new millennium. It was estimated that across the country, the U.S. spent around $100 billion to protect against this massive endof-the-millennium malfunction.

September 11, 2001 Under a brilliant blue sky on the warm and sunny afternoon of September 11, 2001, a sea of people streamed out of Fairfield’s residence halls, classrooms and offices. They gathered together in silent shock on the lawn outside of Egan Chapel, to pray.

As the outdoor Mass began, birds chirped and helicopters whirred toward the distant cloud of smoky haze rising over lower Manhattan. Campus Ministry members offered consolation and support.

The day’s classes had been canceled and campus security was heightened. Counseling Services worked tirelessly to help students, faculty and employees affected by the events of

that morning. In the days that followed, the Fairfield community would mourn the loss of a student’s parent, 14 alumni, and scores of friends, relatives, neighbors, and colleagues who died in the World Trade Center attacks.

The alumni killed in the attacks were: Michael R. Andrews ’89, Jonathan N. Cappello ’00, Christopher J. Dunne ’95, Steven M. Hagis ’91, H. Joseph Heller ’86, Michael G. Jacobs ’69, Michael P. Lunden ’86, Francis N. McGuinn ’74, Patrick J. McGuire ’82, William E. Micciulli ’93, Marc A. Murolo ’95, Christopher T. Orgielewicz ’87, Johanna L. Sigmund ’98, and Christopher P. Slattery ’92.

Built to Last As written up in the 2002 Manor yearbook, Fairfield University endured “renovation and construction, technology and tragedy, scandal and scare” at the turn of the century. Both the new Alumni House and the Village Apartments (renamed Meditz Hall) opened in 2000. Two major building expansions — to the Barone Campus Center and Nyselius Library — were completed in 2002.

Still struggling to make sense of the terror attacks the year before, an anthrax scare and a

classroom hostage situation rattled the campus in ’02, but its “heart and core of Jesuit beliefs remained stable — a force amid the backdrop of Fairfield’s evolution.”

During Homecoming Weekend 2002, an on-campus memorial was dedicated to commemorate the 14 Fairfield University alumni who tragically lost their lives on 9/11. Situated in front of Alumni House, the memorial includes a section of a steel beam that was once part of the original World Trade Center in New York City.

From APK to JvA After 25 years at Fairfield University, Fr. Kelley turned Bellarmine Hall’s Office of the President over to Rev. Jeffrey von Arx, S.J., in 2004. In a personal interview with The Mirror that fall, Fr. von Arx shared that he is left-handed, a Yankees fan, and that as a child he was sometimes called

by his initials, JvA. “We used to call Fr. Kelley ‘APK,’” the student told him before asking, “Can we call you ‘JvA?’” “Not when you introduce me to your mother!” quipped Fr. von Arx.

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“Prez Ball” In celebration of his first anniversary at Fairfield, Fr. von Arx invited students to attend a semiformal Presidential Ball at Bellarmine Hall.

Luminaries lined the path from the chapel to Bellarmine, where Fr. von Arx welcomed 600 students for dinner and dancing under a

festive white party tent. Cheers erupted when Fr. von Arx announced his intention to make Presidential Ball an annual tradition for the duration of his time at Fairfield. True to his word, “Prez Ball” became a much-anticipated annual back-to-school event.

Kelley Center In honor of the longest-serving president in Fairfield University’s history, an impressive new state-of-the-art administrative building and welcoming center was opened in 2005, named the Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J., Center.

In addition to offices, the Kelley Center

houses a 90-seat auditorium for multimedia presentations, seven interview rooms and a large reception area. Centrally located on campus, the building serves students’ administrative needs and also functions as an admissions center for prospective students.

Midnight Breakfast The most festive holiday tradition on Fairfield’s campus is the annual Midnight Breakfast, held in the Barone dining hall on the last day of classes in December. Volunteers from Fairfield’s faculty and staff serve up a late-night feast to students dressed in Santa hats, reindeer antlers,

and holiday-themed attire. Students embrace the opportunity to sing, dance, and blow off steam before final exams begin. First held in 2001, the beloved event continues to be so popular that the most recent Midnight Breakfast had three seatings.

Stag Statue There are often deer sightings around Fairfield’s leafy acreage, but only one official Stag has been a permanent and popular fixture in the center of campus since 2009. The two-ton bronze statue was created by Montana rancher-turnedsculptor, J.C. Dye, and acquired through anonymous donations.

Hundreds of alumni, students, and staff braved a chilly October wind to witness the unveiling of the campus mascot during Homecoming/Alumni and Family Weekend. “I don’t think the weather can stop the Stag pride that’s in the air tonight,” Rob Scribner ’09 told The Mirror.

Superstorm Sandy’s beach house damage in 2012 and the group of students who took up temporary residence in the home of Former President Fr. von Arx.

Superstorm Sandy Fairfield University’s proximity to the shoreline is traditionally regarded as an asset, but through the years coastal storms have reminded University officials and student beach residents of the downside. In recent times, nor’easters have disrupted finals, caused damage to the library’s roof and book collection, and one even dumped 6 inches of snow on Halloween revelers in 2011. But none of those storms had the impact of Sandy.

Classes were canceled for a week after the torrential rain, rising tides and high winds of Superstorm Sandy hit Fairfield over Halloween weekend in 2012. 400 University students were among the thousands evacuated from the Fairfield beach area. Weeks later, many students were still living temporarily with landlords, piled into campus dormitories, and even staying with Fr. von Arx at his private residence.

28 fall 2017 | Fairfiel d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

A dorm room from the 2005 yearbook.

The more things change…

At times it feels like nothing ever stays the same on Fairfield’s campus – as of this writing, additions and expansions are underway to the Barone Campus Center and the Egan School of Nursing and Health Sciences building. A

parking garage and a new residence hall are being constructed. Plans for a $40 million new home for the Dolan School of Business were just announced. A new University President is about to be inaugurated.

…the more they stay the same.

Students enjoy the first Prez Ball in 2005.

And yet, year after year, Fairfield’s Manor yearbooks tell a story that is reassuringly familiar.

A new group of students follows in the footsteps of the students before them: moving into dorms, sharing meals at the dining hall, heading to class. They pick up some of the old Stag traditions like Hunger Cleanup, Senior

Week, and Clam Jam. And then they start new Fairfield traditions like Jail and Bail, Mock Wedding and #FUTurkeys.

The future Manor yearbooks have yet to be published, but if the past is any indication, they are going to look completely different. And a F lot alike. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 29

THE

CHAMPI

Kaitlyn Fisher ’19 (right) with her teammates during the starting lineup announcement at the NCAA Championship First Round at Michigan State.

30 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

IONS

STAGS VOLLEYBALL HAS BEEN MAAC CHAMPION FOR THE PAST TWO SEASONS. CAN THEY MAKE IT THREE?

by John Torsiello

W

ill it be another historic autumn for the Fairfield University volleyball team — Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions for the past two seasons?

Well, don’t bet against it. The Stags have the core of their championship team returning this fall with a nice mix of upperclassmen and young players on the rise.

Last year was a remarkable season for the Stags. In addition to finishing 18-0 in the MAAC regular season and then winning the MAAC Championship, the Stags had a 22-match winning streak, the longest such stretch in the nation last season.

Fairfield’s season ended at Michigan State — ranked 15th in the nation — in the NCAA Championship first round, concluding with a record of 28-6.

To get a picture of just how advanced Fairfield volleyball has become, the Stags have won 31 consecutive matches against MAAC foes dating back to 2015, the third-longest active conference winning streak in the nation entering the 2017 campaign.

“Last season was a record breaking season for our program,” said Head Coach Todd Kress, who is 162-73 at Fairfield and 396-268 in 21 seasons as a Division I head coach. This

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 31

“I’M BLESSED TO BE SURROUNDED BY OVERACHIEVING, SELFLESS STUDENTATHLETES. THE REST FALLS INTO PLACE.” Todd Kress, Head Coach

fall will mark his fourth season of his second term on the Fairfield sidelines and his eighth campaign overall with the Stags.

“That being said, there is still a lot of growth ahead for this program.” He added that his team will focus on simply getting better each day. “So, where many might find it exciting to talk about a three-peat, I guarantee you it will not be discussed within the inner circle of our program.”

Kress was named MAAC Coach of the Year for a conference-record fifth time, and also took home ECAC Coach of the Year honors.

THE HONORS LIST, 2016 SEASON Skyler Day ’18 was the 2016 MAAC Player of the Year. In addition, she collected First Team All-MAAC honors for the second straight year. Also a MAAC All-Championship Team member and a First Team ECAC All-Star, Day was a three-time MAAC Player of the Week.

Co-captain Megan Theiller ’18 was a First Team All-MAAC pick and the MAAC leader with four Player of the Week nods, She was a MAAC AllChampionship Team and First Team ECAC All-Star selection.

The Stags’ third First Team AllMAAC member was co-captain Megan O’Sullivan ’17. O’Sullivan also entered the record books for her work at the net. Her 123 blocks last fall ranked sixth in a single season and made her only the third Stag with multiple 100-block campaigns.

In all, the Stags collected nine of 12 MAAC Player of the Week honors in addition to three MAAC Rookie of the Week recognitions for Manuela F Nicolini ’20. ●

“

W

e think a lot of our success comes from two things,” offered Co-captain Megan Theiller ’18. “First, our hard work, and secondly the strong bond we have as a team. We are all very close on and off the court.”

She said the team works “extremely hard,” adding, “we pride ourselves on being a strong team off the court in terms of academics and our involvement in the University community. It is our attention to detail in all aspects of the word ‘student-athlete’ that really contributes to our overall success as a program.”

Skyler Day ’18 — the MAAC Player of the Year — agreed with her teammate concerning the team’s winning chemistry.

“The close knit bond amongst this team is like no other. We are not only teammates but above all else friends. We support each other

32 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

in all aspects of life and that truly benefits us when it comes to blending and working as a unit on the court.”

Sydney Buckley ’18 pointed to the allaround importance of being a student-athlete at Fairfield. “We are lucky enough to be given the opportunity to excel not only in the classroom but also on the volleyball court. Various academic services along with a large support group from the Athletics Department contributes to our success in both areas, allowing us to become well-rounded individuals.”

Kress, who is ably assisted by Coach Caitlin Stapleton, said, yes, his team works hard, but is also “committed to bigger and better things.”

He added, “We have a group that works towards a common goal and is not concerned with whom gets the credit. Everyone in this program makes great sacrifices to be a part of it and we focus on putting the program and team first.”

K

ress said the foundation of the program was built back in the 1990s, and that the first championship team in 1997 established a firm footing that has been passed on each year “and

FALL ATHLETICS PREVIEW FIELD HOCKEY: Fairfield field hockey

made its second straight appearance in the MAAC Championship Game last year, advancing with an overtime win over Bryant before falling to host Monmouth in double overtime. The Stags were the second seed in the MAAC Championship, posting a 4-2 regular season record in addition to key nonconference wins over Saint Louis, Villanova, and William & Mary. The season kicks off Aug. 25 at the University of Virginia. Their first MAAC game is on Sept. 29 at LIU Brooklyn.

MEN’S SOCCER: Fairfield men’s soccer

collected five victories during the 2016 season, including MAAC triumphs over Iona, Saint Peter’s, and Marist. Leading the way for Head Coach Carl Rees was Ben Wignall ’17, who netted a team-leading five goals. Didirk Angell ’20 added three goals in his freshman campaign en route to MAAC All-Rookie Team laurels. The season starts at Oregon State University Aug. 25. Their first MAAC game is Sept. 27 at Quinnipiac.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: Fairfield women’s

has led us to where we are today. The team that I coach today is a very special unit, but they wouldn’t be where they are today without the foundation built back in the 1990s.”

Kress has a simple but obviously highly effective coaching philosophy. “I’ve always strived to get the most out of every day. The work you put in each day will lead to results tomorrow. Don’t expect a different result unless your equation changes.”

When he is on the recruiting trail, Kress looks for “overachievers,” young women who excel both in the classroom and on the court.

“Those who understand the Jesuit mission statement and prepare themselves for greatness. I’m blessed to be surrounded by overachieving, selfless student-athletes. The rest falls into place.”

Kress has been to “many” college campuses over the years and he believes Fairfield ranks near the top of any list.

“There are so many places on campus where you can get away to reflect. I think the safety aspect on campus and the community is a huge piece of the puzzle. And, you have great tradition in a number of our female programs, and student-athletes want to be a part of that tradition.”

Theiller said for her and her teammates, Fairfield was a great fit for them when they considered what college to attend “because it allowed us to compete at a high level while also getting a great education.” She added, “Fairfield seemed to have the perfect balance between the two, which is often hard to find.”

No one in the Fairfield women’s volleyball program is predicting a MAAC three-peat.

But don’t be surprised if that’s just what happens when the leaves turn colors and start to fall to the ground.

The team will play Boston College, Providence College and Loyola Chicago among other teams in pre-season play. Their F MAAC season opens September 16 at Iona. l left:

2016 MAAC Player of the Year Skyler Day ’18 at the NCAA Championship First Round at Michigan State. above :

Lady Stags celebrate after winning the 2016 MAAC Championship.

soccer went toe-to-toe with the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in 2016. A scoreless draw with Monmouth on Lessing Field was the lone blemish on the 9-0-1 conference record for the eventual MAAC champion Hawks, and the Stags followed that performance with a 1-0 Senior Day win over Rider. The squad also picked up a 1-0 win at MAAC opponent Iona and a 2-0 victory over crosstown foe Sacred Heart.

The team competed at the Ohana Hotels

by Outrigger Shootout in Waipahu, O’Hau, Hawaii Aug. 18. Their first MAAC game will be Sept. 16 at Siena.

CROSS-COUNTRY: One of the best in-

dividual performances in Fairfield crosscountry history highlighted the 2016 season for the Stags’ harriers: Sam Daly became the first Stag in 20 years to crack the top 10 at the MAAC Championship Meet, crossing the line with a 10th-place finish at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

Kaylee Bergen ’19 paced the women’s team at the conference meet as both clubs raced to ninth place.

Both teams turned in one of their strongest performances of the fall on campus at the annual Fr. Victor F. Leeber, S.J., Invitational, F with each squad placing second. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 33

World

Class The Great Courses has selected Fairfield associate professor of anthropology Scott Lacy, PhD, to teach their course “Anthropology and the Study of Humanity.”

J

by Tess (Brown) Long ’07, MFA’11

ust outside the village of Dissan in Mali, miles of sorghum fields stretch out into the distance, tilting toward the West African sun. Their lively green leaves catch the breeze, the sharp edges waving.

Sorghum is a lifeblood grain for Malian family farmers and unpredictable rain patterns in this semiarid environment can threaten crop survival at any time.

So, when Scott Lacy, PhD, a cultural anthropologist and associate professor of anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Fairfield University, stepped in to work as a bridge between local farmers and plant breeders, everyone was surprised by the results.

After months of research and successful test plots of a new, much shorter, dwarf variety of

high-yielding sorghum, the farmers were impressed by the new seeds’ yield potential. After harvest, Dr. Lacy asked the big question, “San were, jon be na si kura dan?” (“Who’s going to plant this variety again?”). Every single farmer had the same reply: “N’te.” Or, “Not me.”

Why wouldn’t they switch sorghum varieties? At first the farmers’ response seemed baffling, but “the answers were hidden in the plain sight of daily life,” said Dr. Lacy. “It’s not uncommon for cows and bulls to break loose in rural Mali and enjoy an unlimited buffet.

Farmers knew that the big and tasty seed head poised right at eye-level of passing cattle wasn’t likely to make it home to the family granary.”

That’s what anthropologists do, explained Dr. Lacy: With a foot in both camps – science and culture – an anthropologist like Dr. Lacy

34 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

engages in long-term culturally embedded research to “bridge the efforts and knowledge of disconnected experts who have something to gain from sharing knowledge and resources.”

When The Great Courses, The Teaching Company’s prestigious line of audio and video college-level courses, was looking for a professor to teach a course on this kind of socially engaged anthropology, a colleague’s recommendation led them to the award-winning Dr. Lacy.

T

he Great Courses selects only the top 1% of more than 500,000 college professors in the world — chosen for their strength as teachers — to be part of their series of audio and visual programs.

left:

Scott Lacy, PhD, associate professor of anthropology, pictured at The Harborview Market in Bridgeport, Conn. He has been selected to teach for The Great Courses.

Founded in 1990, The Great Courses has offered lifetime education for more than 25 years. Upwards of 19 million courses have been taken by a diverse audience — anyone from a college student looking to get ahead to Bill Gates, who touted his collection of Great Courses during a 60 Minutes interview.

Dr. Lacy, who has been on faculty at Fairfield since 2009, is a recipient of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition and Achievement from the U.S. House of Representatives among several other teaching honors, and has championed his own non-profit for Malian communities, African Sky, established in 2004. He said that being selected for The Great Courses is an honor and “a dream come true.” He recently returned from a yearlong research and teaching stint in the Republic of Cameroon in Central Africa — his

second Fulbright grant appointment.

“Anthropology and the Study of Humanity,” Dr. Lacy’s completed course, is composed of 24 video sessions at about a half-hour each, with an extensive accompanying booklet. In the first month after its release this past Memorial Day, the course – catapulted by an extensive publicity campaign and an advertisement in the Sunday New York Times – sold nearly 5,000 DVDs. At the time of this writing, it has had almost 80,000 internet streaming views.

W

ith a presentation style that’s calm and direct, yet sprinkled with good humor, Dr. Lacy’s comprehensive introduction

to four-field anthropology — biological anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology — offers a thorough understanding of humanity’s development, shared in lively segments complete with supporting video and illustrations.

Students trot the globe, discovering the trove of information each anthropological subfield provides — up to a mountainous region in Tibet where women marry multiple husbands, into caves in Southern France to decipher prehistoric art, and through the farmland of Mali in West Africa.

“The course looks at humanity from all different disciplines. Rather than segregating each subfield, I integrate them because really anything good that comes out of anthropology – its strength – comes from more than one point of view,” Dr. Lacy said, his trademark long locks pulled back into a neat pony tail.

“The way I organized this course is around the big human questions.”

In the first session, “Why Anthropology Matters,” Dr. Lacy begins with the questions “Who are we?” and “Where do we come from?” He takes students from the origin of species — both human and animal — through the long history of the big bang, and right up to present day.

Dr. Lacy shares anecdotes of what it was like to be a young explorer, interspersing the course with images of his 1994 Peace Corps volunteer post in the Malian village of Dissan.

“I must have been quite a sight,” Dr. Lacy said emphatically of his first visit to Dissan.

“Not yet fully acclimated to the Malian life, I arrived on the back of a beat-up, powder-blue Moped, and I was wearing these matching pants with a local gown-like shirt with fish prints on it. Plus, to complete my ‘freak flag,’ I also sported some red John Lennon sunglasses under a bright yellow helmet. This is not a picture I share on Facebook.”

Unfortunately, after being warmly welcomed and launching a high protein maize project, Dr. Lacy fell ill and was medevacked back to the United States. In just a flash, he

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 35

said, Dissan was out of his life.

“I went to Mali to help the poorest of the poor but as I lay in the hospital bed, I realized that the village of Dissan had done more for me than I could ever hope to do for them,” Dr. Lacy said, reflecting on the people and village that inspired him to become a cultural anthropologist and a man of social action. “So, to honor this debt, I was determined to return to Mali, but this time with more useful skills.”

Dr. Lacy confessed that he didn’t really start off as a true “bridge builder” between cultures.

He was a “hardline, farmer-first kind of thinker” originally, but his mindset has changed.

“Climate change, socioeconomics, enduring conflict have created a really challenging food puzzle in Mali that neither scientists nor farmers alone can figure out,” he said.

Dr. Lacy remembers wisdom that was shared with him on one of his first days back in the fields of Dissan, after he trained as an anthropologist at the University of California Santa Barbara. “Bolo koni kelen te se ka bele taa,” an elder named Sidi uttered as they worked in rows of sorghum. Literally translated, the phrase means, “One finger cannot lift a stone.” Eager to demonstrate otherwise, Dr. Lacy licked his finger, pressed it to a pebble, and lifted it into the air. But, before his smirk could transition into a know-it-all grin, the stone fell to the ground and Sidi said, “Voila!” with a laugh.

While Sidi has long-since passed on, he helped Dr. Lacy to see the path of the anthropologist as a “bridge builder” and as someone who can help create stronger communities through social transformation.

I

n the “Kinship, Family, and Marriage” lecture later in the course, an anthropological lens is applied to understand how and why different cultures have different ideas about how to structure a family — and what functional logic underlies these differences.

Dr. Lacy calls upon some “virtual ethnographic field research” and offers a close-up on Limi farming communities in the mountains of Tibet, where arable land is limited. It takes a tremendous amount of work to grow crops in this region, particularly at that altitude and without the benefit of modern machinery. And so, over time, said Dr. Lacy, the culture evolved so that many Limi women traditionally marry several husbands, typically, all brothers.

“When I’ve said this in class before at Fairfield, students gasp,” Dr. Lacy said with a smile. “But when we can stop looking at it from our perspective and use some basic anthropological field methods to see it from another point of view, it really makes a lot of sense. More people working the field, maintaining a manageable population, it is a perfectly reasonable human arrangement for these subsistence farmers.’”

W

hile it was hard for him to select a favorite lecture in the series, Dr. Lacy admits that the final one in the course, “The Anthropology of Happiness,” is one of which he is most proud.

36 fall 2017 | Fairfiel d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Topic Science & Mathematics

Subtopic Biology

Anthropology and the Study of Humanity Course Guidebook Professor Scott M. Lacy Fairfield University

above:

The Great Courses guidebook for “Anthropology and the Study of Humanity.” below:

A screen shot of Dr. Lacy’s teaching video for The Great Courses.

“It is an area of anthropology that I’m currently developing,” Dr. Lacy said. “Strangely enough, there are a lot of people studying happiness, but anthropologists haven’t really looked at it from our unique point of view. I want to bring all of these disparate fields together from economics, to health, to spirituality and religion, into a singular frame. Which is, again, what anthropology does — one of its strengths.”

In the capstone class, Dr. Lacy takes students through each of anthropology’s subfields to uncover happiness, which he says is a “sandy term” that’s like “dry ocean sand in your palm; the tighter you try to grasp it, the more it squeezes right out.”

“The same thing goes for happiness [itself],” Dr. Lacy continued in the lecture. “The best we can do is get a loose grip on this core – yet elusive – phenomenon.”

Is happiness really a function of luck? You’ll have to take the course to delve more deeply into Dr. Lacy’s study of the evolution of its meaning.

“I’m really proud of this class,” Dr. Lacy said.

“And I’m really happy because not only is it going to be really beneficial for me to get my view of anthropology out there, but I think it’s great for the University. At Fairfield, we’ve got remarkable professors, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent my colleagues in The F Great Courses catalogue.” l

Donor PROFILE Michael R. Andrews ’89 Scholarship Connects Alumni, Boosts Participation, and Honors Classmate Creative and thoughtful Fairfield alumni find inspiring ways to support their alma mater, as evidenced by the efforts of Andrew Davis ’89, Matthew McLaughlin ’89, and Joseph Solimine Jr. ’89. Together, these classmates created the Michael R. Andrews ’89 Scholarship to commemorate Mike, their friend and fellow alumnus, whose life was taken during the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

Since its inception in 2005, the scholarship fund has grown steadily thanks to the proceeds of an annual golf outing and other memorial events that bear Mike’s name. With the dedication and leadership of Andy, Matt, and Joe, and foremost through the overwhelming generosity of hundreds of donor participants -- alumni, colleagues, and friends -- the fund is now closing in on the $1 million mark.

“The journey has been a wonderful ride for the three of us.

We feel so fortunate to have been able to reconnect and, more importantly, to stay connected to a large and growing circle of friends in memory of a great person,” said Davis, a commercial finance manager at PA Consulting. “We certainly feel a sense of pride when we see Fairfield’s Annual Report on Giving each year and the list of donors to the Michael R. Andrews ’89 Scholarship Fund takes up a page and a half.”

(l-r) Joseph Solimine Jr. ’89, Matthew McLaughlin ’89, and Andrew Davis ’89.

The Final Golf Outing This fall will be the 12th and final Mike Andrews Open as the trio moves on to fundraise for the scholarship in other capacities.

“We thought we were going to quietly end the golf outings last year,” Davis said. “But Frank Carroll ’89, president of the Board of Trustees and our classmate, stepped up and offered his support for one more big event at his home course.”

“The setting, the location, and the ability to give all involved a chance to go out on the very highest of notes seemed like a perfect fit. We have been so blessed to have people like Frank step up for us to help make these outings so successful every year.”

The Future Andy, Matt, and Joe feel that they have only hit the tip of the iceberg with their fundraising work and that the last 12 years have been primarily about reconnecting in Mike’s honor. But they have vowed to continue fundraising in some fashion until the scholarship becomes “the biggest and most valuable in Fairfield’s portfolio.”

“Three years ago, we had the scholarship recipients come to the outing and speak at the dinner afterwards and it was an amazing feeling for all of us in the room,” Davis continued. “We collectively saw the result of our efforts — two awesome students benefiting from

From the 1989 yearbook: (l-r) Brian Dempsey, Matthew McLaughlin, Andrew Davis, Mike Andrews, Joe Solimine, and (bottom) Dave Pooley.

SAVE THE DATE The 12th and Final Annual Mike Andrews Open Friday, October 13, 2017 Hosted by Frank Carroll ’89, president of the Board of Trustees at Fairfield University Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich, Conn.

11 a.m. Registration/Check-in For more information, please visit neverforgetmike.com

some money we raised, neither of whom might have been able to attend Fairfield without the scholarship. Beyond that, these students had a keen understanding of who Mike Andrews was and what he meant to us. In a small way, Mike’s name is living on with them forever. We can almost hear the stereo from Mike’s room on Loyola three blaring again with his favorite artist, Bruce Springsteen, ‘…we made a promise, we swore we’d always remember, no retreat, baby, no surrender!’”

On Giving Back to Fairfield “It has been a great experience for us and a chance to strengthen friendships, and it can be so rewarding on a personal level,” Davis said. “The University will work with and support you all the way. The fundraising part is great and important, but does not have to be the core reason to do it. At the very heart of it, we wanted to do something to remember and honor Mike. We were determined not to let anything get in F the way of that.” l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 37

Grants&Gifts Scholarship Fairfield University’s Upward Bound program has been awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s TRiO program in the amount of $1,758,250 over

the next five years. Through comprehensive, holistic, co-curricular and academic programs, the Fairfield University Upward Bound Program provides low-income, potential first-generation college students with the tools necessary to access postsecondary education as full participants. The program supports students as they push beyond barriers to college access by engaging them in tutoring, mentoring, academic instruction, academic counseling, standardized testing classes, life skills workshops, cultural events, college visits, assistance with the college admissions and financial aid processes, financial literacy, career exploration, leadership development, and a summer residential program. All activities and services are provided at no cost to the students and their families. Upward Bound is part of the federally funded TRiO programs.

The William T. Morris Foundation

has given $100,000 to the William T. Morris Foundation Scholarships, which benefit academically qualified students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds who might otherwise be unable to attend Fairfield University due to financial barriers. Selected recipients demonstrate qualities such as responsibility, selflessness, innovation, and integrity.

The Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation has provided $25,000 in sup-

port of Fairfield University’s Community Partnership Scholarship Program, specifically to enhance the financial aid available to students coming from underserved areas of nearby Bridgeport, Conn.

Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies’ Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Associate Professor, Joyce Shea, DNSc, APRN, PMHCNS-BC, and Family Nurse Practitioner Program Track Coordinator, Jaclyn Conelius, PhD, APRN, have been awarded $1,208,725 in a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advanced Nursing Education Workforce Grant over the next two years

for their project, Implementing Palliative Care Across the Community (IPAC). The purpose of the IPAC program is to provide didactic and clinical education experiences that prepare Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) students to deliver palliative care services to patients across the lifespan in underserved community-based primary care settings. The funds will support traineeships for NP students as well as program infrastructure for an expanded Academic-Practice (AP) partnership between the Egan School and Southwest Community Health Center (SWCHC). The students will be completing either an MSN or a DNP degree. Students in the IPAC Program will be required to complete a minimum of 100 hours in a precepted clinical practicum in which they learn to apply palliative care content to an identified patient population (e.g. patients with CHF, Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain syndromes, Sickle Cell disease, dementia, etc.). They will complete the remainder of their 500 required clinical hours in general primary care/primary mental health care settings.

The Paul Jones Trust Fund has given $37,500 to the Paul L. Jones Nursing Scholarships, which are awarded to

38 fall 2017 | Fairfiel d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

outstanding students with demonstrated financial need who would otherwise be unable to attend Fairfield. Many of the scholarship recipients are young men and women who have expressed an interest in working with the most vulnerable populations – those living in medically underserved areas where healthcare is inaccessible or unaffordable.

College of Arts and Sciences Assistant History Professor Silvia MarsansSakly, PhD, was one of only 85 university professors nationwide to receive a prestigious National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) fellowship to pursue her advanced

research in Middle Eastern history. The $50,400 grant will support her latest project — A History of Democratic Protest and Memory in Tunisia, 1864-2011 — a book-length study of the Tunisian revolt of 1864, and the impact that the memory of the revolt has had on

Silvia Marsans-Sakly, PhD.

subsequent Tunisian history. The book will offer new evidence and insights unearthed by Dr. Marsans-Sakly’s research that challenge historical accounts of the uprising and reveal hidden facts alluding to a sense of historical revisionism that has occurred over the decades.

Professor of Music Laura Nash, PhD, was also awarded a $175,323 NEH grant to support an intensive, three-week academic institute at Fairfield that engaged 30 teachers from across the U.S. in an experiential study of AfricanAmerican culture. The summer institute, From Harlem to Hip-hop: African-American History, Literature, and Song, provided a study of the cultural and historical contexts that helped shape, and continue to impact, social and racial dynamics in the U.S. Through a series of scholarly lectures, seminar discussions, and experiential visits to artistic and cultural sites in New York City, participants examined the significant impact that the black community’s cultural achievements and musical heritage have had on American life, from the Great Migration in 1910 to the creative explosion of today’s hip-hop generation.

The Lawrence I. and Blanche H. Rhodes Memorial Fund has provided

$4,000 in support for the Mathematics Department Scholarship, which directly impacts Fairfield University math students as they are challenged to solve real-world problems and address the truth that underlies them through scholarly collaboration with peers and faculty, original research projects, and applied internship opportunities.

Dolan School of Business The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has granted $10,000 in support

for the Professional Development Series (PDS), a tailored program designed to cultivate critical career-related skills in emerging professionals.

Dolan School of Business professional development series.

The PDS offers a continuum of personal and professional development opportunities for business students during all four years of their undergraduate education.

Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions IMPACT Fairfield County has given $20,000

in support for the program “Refugee Children and Youth Learning, Enrichment and Academic Preparedness,” which supports refugee children and youth through academic enrichment and helps them transition into life in America.

This project is a collaboration between the International Institute of Connecticut, the Connecticut Writing Project-Fairfield, Bridgeport Public Schools, and both Fairfield University’s Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions and its Center for Faith and Public Life.

The Arts The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) has granted $8,500 for Haitian-

American artist Daniel Bernard Roumain’s fiveday residency at Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, which will culminate in a large-scale performance of his work EN MASSE, which will fuse community interaction

across campus with Roumain’s own cultural references and vibrant imagination. NEFA has also provided $8,000 in support for the internationally acclaimed Compagnie Herve Koubi, composed of dancers from West Africa and Algeria, as they lead a two-day residency at the Quick Center and perform their work What the Day Owes to the Night. The performance will blend contemporary, street, and urban dance movements, using capoeira, martial arts, and powerful imagery to express the plight of immigrants and refugees.

The Parkinson Family Foundation

has given $2,500 for Fairfield University Art Museum’s (FUAM) upcoming exhibition: The Holy Name. Treasures from the Gesù: Bernini and his Age. This unique exhibition will bring a selection of works from the church of the Gesù in Rome to Fairfield’s campus to present the historical, artistic, and cultural significance of the church of the Gesù—one of the most important ecclesiastical foundations in Rome—and to explore the formation and growth of the Jesuit order in the climate of the Counter-Reformation.

The Robert Lehman Foundation has granted $6,000 for FUAM’s Edwin L. Weisl Jr. Lectureships in Art History during the 2017-18 academic year, which will bring five distinguished scholars to campus to lecture on topics ranging from the Ledger Drawings of the Plains Indians, to the Art of the Church of F the Gesù and Bernini, to William Kentridge. l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 39

ON JUNE 9 – 11, NEARLY 1,450 ALUMNI AND GUESTS CAME HOME TO FAIRFIELD TO CELEBRATE REUNION 2017.

50

TH

REUNION

2017

REUNION This year’s Reunion alumni — those in classes ending in a 2 or a 7 — were treated to a weekend full of reminiscing and reconnecting with friends and classmates. The festivities began with Friday night class receptions at venues around town, and the excitement continued on Saturday with the annual Fun Run, a walking tour of campus, the Taste of Fairfield and Stags BeerFest, and Mass in the Egan Chapel. On Saturday evening, members of the Class of 1992 celebrated their milestone 25th Reunion with a champagne toast, and the night concluded with dinner under the tent on Bellarmine Lawn, where alumni danced the night away.

Also celebrating on campus that weekend were the University’s Golden Stags, those alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago. These most seasoned alumni took part in many of the Reunion activities during the day and then had their own special dinner in the Dolan School of Business on Saturday evening.

The University partnered with a number of alumni-owned businesses throughout the weekend, including Brennan’s Shebeen (Mike Brennan ’96), Milford Soft Serve (Pat Cole ’95), Black Hog Brewing Company (Mike Egmont ’95 and Tom Sobocinski ’14), DJ International (Joe Polletta ’11), The Cheese Truck (Tom Sobocinski ’14), and also with Lindsay Bacchiocchi, the daughter of two alumni and owner of the Keep ‘em Rollin’ food truck. A highlight of the weekend was the interactive photography provided by Pretty Instant at the Taste of Fairfield and Bellarmine Dinner.

To view additional photos, visit www.fairfield.edu/reunionphotos.

Lucas poses with some fellow Stags.

Alumni from the Class of 2002 and their guests in front of Bellarmine Hall.

40 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Members of the Class of 1967 gathered for the 2017 Commencement ceremony.

50th Reunion for the Class of 1967

Leonore Rizy and Golden Stags Edward Rizy ’60, Ernie Garrity ’60 and John Parsons ’60, enjoy the Taste of Fairfield.

Stags from the Class of 1982 have their photo taken on Bellarmine Lawn.

The Class of 1967 and their guests returned home to Fairfield in May to celebrate the “Reunion of a Lifetime,” their milestone 50th Reunion. This annual event, a yearly tradition since 2001, provides alumni who graduated 50 years ago the chance to reunite, reminisce, and reconnect with their alma mater as we mark this special anniversary of their Commencement from Fairfield University. This year, 51 members of the Class of 1967 attended the weekend’s festivities – gathering for a campus tour with University Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., a welcome back dinner, and a “Fairfield: Today and Tomorrow” presentation from University guest speakers. At a special luncheon, the Class was formally inducted into the “Golden Stags” by then Interim President Lynn Babington as Frank Carroll ’89, chairman of the Board of Trustees, led a champagne toast to their 50th Reunion. After the traditional Baccalaureate Mass in Alumni Hall (concelebrated by Rev. Msgr. John Bennett ’67 and Deacons Robert Sheils ’67 and Dennis Gorsuch ’67), the Class celebrated with a cocktail reception and dinner — including a revival performance by their classmates’ musical group, “The Bleach Boys.” The weekend concluded as the Class of ’67 processed proudly with the graduates of the Class of 2017 in the undergraduate Commencement ceremony. Congratulations to our newest “Golden Stags!”

Members of the Class of 1967 at the Golden Stags Induction Luncheon.

Members of the Class of 1997 gather to celebrate the life of and dedicate a basketball hoop to former classmate Billy O’Brien in the new Leslie A. Quick Jr. Recreational Complex.

View additional photos and a video at fairfield.edu/50threunion.

Class of 1968: Save the date for your 50th Reunion: May 18-20, 2018!

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 41

Alumni NOTES 1960

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

’98 | Jessica Grossarth was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on April 19, 2017.

’66 | Anthony Sirianni MA’68 authored the following books: A Loss of Innocence, The Aftermath: The Road Back, and The Blain Conspiracy.

1970

’71 | John Skoyles authored and published two new books of poems: Suddenly It’s Evening: Selected Poems and Inside Job: New Poems, as well as a book called The Nut File, described as a fiction/nonfiction hybrid. ’73 | Thomas McDade authored a short story published in Between the Lines Publishing’s anthology, Liminal Time, Liminal Space: Exploring the Worlds Between. ’77 | Eileen Wiard authored Inside Outsiders, published by Nighthawk Press and has a CD Yesterday’s Rain, a collection of original songs written over the last thirty years. Eileen recently graduated from Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson, Ariz. and is building a practice of spiritual direction in Taos, N.Mex. ’78 | Stephen Braga, director of the Appellate Litigation Clinic at the University of Virginia School of Law, has been promoted to director of clinical programs.

1980

’82 | Mario Dell’Olio MA’88 received a doctor of sacred music

Division of Criminal Justice from May 2013 to December 2016.

Karen Donoghue ’03 and Michael Rupp ’03 are the proud parents of Julia Shea, born April 14, 2017.

Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

degree from The Graduate Theological Foundation in May, 2017.* Mary Beth Mackley, has authored the book, Americana A Civics Handbook: (First Edition published in 2011 and Second Edition in June 2015, revised January 2017). It is an awardwinning finalist in the History, United States category of the 2016 Best Book Awards.* ’87 | Carolyn Mueller CT’94, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Danbury Music Centre (DMC), a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization that provides classical community music experiences through ensembles and events.

Carolyn also performs with one of the DMC ensembles, the Danbury Concert Chorus.*

42 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

1990

’91 | John Schratwieser was honored with the Alene Valkanas State Arts Advocacy Award.

This award honors an individual whose arts advocacy efforts have dramatically affected the political landscape at the state level. John serves as director of the Kent County Arts Council, where he has launched ARTikultur-MD, an artist residency program and facility, the first of its kind in Maryland. ’92 | Christopher Romanyshyn took the oath of office on March 10, 2017 to serve as superior court judge in Essex County, N.J. He is assigned to the Essex County Family Division. Christopher was an assistant attorney general and deputy director with the New Jersey

Kathleen Skerry has been named vice president of Digital Marketing for Paramount Pictures. In this role she will lead digital strategy and execution across Paramount’s theatrical slate.

Kathleen joins Paramount from OMD Entertainment where she was credited with leading the agency’s efforts on all digital channels for Walt Disney Studios including Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.* Catherine Yuhas is the lead teacher of the Environmental Science Academy at High Tech High School of the Hudson County Schools of Technology in N.J. She is also teaches “Career and Technical Education” and is a science teacher in this teacher-designed program. Catherine is finishing her second master of science degree in sustainable environmental systems (formerly known as urban environmental systems management) at Pratt Institute this December 2017.* ’99 | Erin Sappio, PhD, has created and co-hosts a podcast called AllPro Mindset, which explores the mindset of successful professionals and shares information to live a more mindful and positive life.

2000

’09 | Jennifer Mezzapelle, senior marketing manager at Blue Buffalo and founder and chief curator of Ekletico Café LLC, was named one of Fairfield County’s 40 Under Forty.

* Also listed in Alumni Online Community

Colin Rigby ’97 A Passion for Education

C

by John Torsiello olin Rigby’s passion for education, service and helping others was formed in the classrooms of Jesuit schools, including, of course, Fairfield

University.

“Fairfield was an incredible experience for me. I joke sometimes that eight years of Jesuit education (he attended St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J.) prepared me well for a career in public education.”

After graduating Fairfield in May of 1997, Rigby began teaching high school mathematics at Rutherford High School in Rutherford, N.J. He taught for nine years before becoming an assistant principal at Chatham Middle School in Chatham, N.J. After two years at Chatham, he became the

“ Reflecting on my time at Fairfield, the friendships I made and the relationships I formed are something that I am forever grateful for… it is a point of great pride for me that some of the best people in my life continue to be Fairfield graduates.” principal of Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck, N.J., where he has been for the past nine years.

“I had the opportunity to work alongside a number of strong educational leaders over the years whose differing approaches to pedagogy helped me shape my own leadership style; they taught me humility,

pushed me to consistently be an advocate for young learners, to be collaborative, and to always make decisions in the best interest of students,” he said.

Rigby called “the art” of teaching and learning “fluid,” which makes every new school year exciting and challenging for him.

Developing new programs, assessing and adjusting existing practices, and working to create innovative ways to engage all learners is challenging work, he says, but “good work that demands much of teachers, administrators, parents and students.

“I have been, and continue to be, a believer that all students possess unique talents and our job as educators is to tap into these special qualities and create opportunities, in and out of the classroom, for them to grow both academically and socially.”

Students will learn, he said, at different rates and demonstrate strengths and gaps at different points in their academic journey.

“Overcoming obstacles and adversity is a key part of the maturation process, so we need to be cognizant of these hurdles and be sure to support our students as they move forward through their formative years.”

Navigating challenges is nothing new for adolescents. But, Rigby observes, “Students today face many of the same challenges that we faced growing up, with the complicating factor of an additional layer: the lens of social media. The reprieve of going home to your family after a tough day at school or after a disappointing loss on the playing field does not really exist anymore. Comments on social media from friends, teammates, or peers can add complexity to a given situation...another element for young people to respond to and handle as they grow up in a digital society.”

Thus, he said, parents and educators need to work with children and students to help them understand the benefits of social media, while sending a clear message that what they post or share is a reflection of who they are and that they should take that

Colin Rigby ’97

responsibility seriously.

Rigby lives with his wife, Kelly (Smith) Rigby ’96, and their two sons, Matthew, 13, and Nicholas, 11, in Fair Haven, N.J., located in Monmouth County. Kelly Rigby teaches prekindergarten in a neighboring town and their sons attend the middle school in Fair Haven.

He spoke of his years at Fairfield with fondness. “At Fairfield, I had the opportunity to learn from many talented, dedicated, and caring professors. From my education classes to my student teaching experience, I was surrounded by individuals who pushed me to ‘do it better,’ provided encouragement when I faced difficult challenges, and supported me as I prepared for the ‘real world.’”

Rigby recalled, “I met some incredible people throughout my four years at Fairfield and I am proud to share that I met some of my closest friends there who I am still close with today. I met my wife, Kelly, at school and we currently live two blocks from one of my college roommates. Our group of friends tries to get together a few times a year for dinner or a round a golf, but I know I can count on them if I, or my family, ever need anything. Reflecting on my time at Fairfield, the friendships I made and the relationships I formed are something that I am forever grateful for…it is a point of great pride for me that some of the best people in my life F continue to be Fairfield graduates.” l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 43

Alumni NOTES

2010

’15 | Richard Dowling won the 115th Connecticut Amateur Championship at Tashua Knolls Golf Club in Trumbull, Conn. on June 23, 2017.

Marriages Tina Cerbone ’98 and Brian Whyte — May 27, 2017.

Jennifer Hughes ’03 and Gregory Irorio ’04 — June 2, 2017.

Elizabeth Seppa ’04 and Geoff Bagshaw — May 6, 2017.

Melody Serafino ’05 and Jason Perlroth — April 29, 2017.

Akiko Shimamura and Ralph Achacoso ’06 — April 8, 2017.

Laura Dunn ’08 and Timothy O’Brien ’08 — June 3, 2017.

Tess Donnelly and Thomas Vitlo ’09 — April 29, 2017.

Alicia Cadigan ’10 and Ryan Cleary — May 27, 2017.

Malori Newcomer and Joseph Cefoli ’10 — May 28, 2017.

Kara Halligan ’11 and Daniel Smith ’10 — June 1, 2017.

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Mallory Mullis ’14 and Brice Agerton — May 6, 2017.

Lauren Rosenblatt ’14 and James Mathews ’12 — April 28, 2017.

Teresa Smith ’14 and Jonathan Mailloux ’14, MS’15 — May 13, 2017.

Samantha (Buck) ’15 and David Vigliotta ’15 — June 17, 2017.

Births Lisa (Littlefield) ’99 and Robert Nishiyama ’99, son — Owen Leslie, Nov. 3, 2016.

Karen (Donoghue) ’03 and Michael Rupp ’03, daughter — Julia Shea, April 14, 2017.

Elizabeth (Chatel) ’02, MA’09 and Ryan SanAngelo, daughter — Elise Kathryn, April 1, 2015.*

Jacalyn (Dziados) ’06 and Tyler Colligan ’06 welcomed son Connor James on June 25, 2017.

Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

Kathleen and Brian Lange ’06, son — Conor Stephen, March 30, 2017.* Katelyn (Billings) ’06 and Robert Sullivan ’06, daughter — Charlotte Marie, Feb. 16, 2017.

Jacalyn (Dziados) ’06 and Tyler Colligan ’06, son — Connor James, June 25, 2017.

Meghanne (Malinowski) ’06 and Jon Fireman, daughter — Ella Charlotte, April 20, 2017.

Sarah (Piccolomini) ’11 and James Keenan ’11 — July 16, 2016.

Kristen (McCarney) ’07 and Patrick Wallace ’07, son — Jason Robert, April 28, 2017.*

Claire Rothschild ’11 and Matthew Gutauskas ’94 — June 10, 2017.

Kelly (Grgich) ’09 and Christopher Atwell ’08, son — William Lisle, Oct. 16, 2016.

Allison Luciani ’12 and Zachary Rogg-Meltzer ’10 — June 23, 2017.

Michelle (Cote) Canavan ’12 and John Canavan ’12, son — Conor Adrien – April 19, 2017.*

44 fal l 2017 | Fairfiel d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Lauren Rosenblatt ’14 and James Mathews ’12 were married on April 28, 2017 with more than 20 Stags in attendance.

Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

* Also listed in Alumni Online Community

Kathryn Dennen ’15 A Fulbright Scholar Finds Inspiration in Greece

T

by Meredith Guinness o say Kathryn Dennen has been busy the last two years is a bit of an understatement.

In May 2015, she walked across the patio at Bellarmine Hall, accepting her bachelor’s degree in English with a double minor in Spanish and educational studies. Just 15 months later, she earned her master’s in elementary education from Fairfield, giving her just enough time to pack her things and head off to a Hellenic odyssey as a Fulbright scholar in Greece.

“I felt called to it,” she said of the Mediterranean country where she knew no one and couldn’t speak a word of the native tongue. “The rich history, the culture, the food, and especially the art!”

Dennen had also read a lot about the Greek education system and thought immersing herself in foreign methods might

“ I am no longer the same person because my eyes have seen such wonders as these,” she wrote of her travels. enhance her own teaching career once she was back in the States.

“They really have a holistic view of education,” she said, “and I thought I could learn from it and bring those strategies back to the U.S.” True to her determined nature, Dennen jumped in as soon as she got to Kantza, the suburb of Athens where she taught.

Each morning, she’d board a school bus and head to Latsio Elementary School, which is part of Psychico College. Once there, she spent her day helping youngsters

improve their English skills.

Since she was free to plan her own lessons, Dennen, who was president of Fairfield’s Dance Ensemble, was able to incorporate some Kathryn Dennen ’15 of her passion for the arts.

She choreographed, co-directed and stagemanaged the fourth grade and sixth grade Thanksgiving musicals as well as the third grade end-of-the-year musical.

She also made a point of weaving an emphasis on poetry into her daily lessons with both skilled English speakers and those who needed a little encouragement.

“I was honored to spearhead a project at the elementary school to incorporate poetry into its curriculum as a medium for children to practice, read and ‘play with’ the English language,” she said. “A sixth grade class even put on its own version of a Poetry Out Loud performance by presenting dramatic readings of their poems written from animal perspectives.”

Working so closely with the two languages helped Dennen in her own goal of becoming conversant in Greek, a daunting task for which she had to learn an entirely new alphabet. Her Spanish studies and a natural affinity for languages helped, but her sunny optimism enabled her to travel outside her comfort zone to perfect her skills.

Though she hadn’t expected to have time to travel during her Fulbright year, Dennen found herself traipsing about Greece and much of Europe with exhilarating stops in England, Germany, and Austria, just to name a few countries.

Her adventurous spirit had her wandering royal gardens in Warsaw, kayaking in the pristine Aegean Sea, and completing a sevenhour hike through massive Vikos Gorge in northern Greece.

“I am no longer the same person because my eyes have seen such wonders as these,” she wrote of her travels.

Dennen timed her Fulbright year well: She learned of a TESOL Greece convention happening in February in Athens and was invited to co-present with a co-worker on the topic of mindfulness in the classroom.

When the school year was over, Dennen spent a few weeks as an English teacher and counselor at Athens College English Summer Camp, engaging a lively group of kindergarteners and encouraging their English skills.

Some of her most enriching memories of her time in Greece are the small moments.

She remembered when a little boy drew a picture of a man on a page, pointed to the man’s upper lip and his own and said, “moustaki.”

“It was the first time I learned from a child,” she said with a smile, “and the word was moustache!”

Dennen said she loved her time learning at Fairfield, an experience she shares with her mother, the former Kathryn Aiksnoras ’83, MA’86, P’19,’15 and her younger sister Anne ’19, who will be a junior this fall. But instructing in a classroom all day has given her a real-world feel for what it takes to be a successful teacher.

“First, you set the bar high,” she said.

“You help them along — and then you let F them fly.” l

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2017 45

Alumni NOTES

REUNION WEEKEND

Classes of 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and Golden Stags (classes of 1951-1967)

In Memoriam Edward J. Montoni ’51 — Feb. 4, 2017.

Rev. Robert F. Condron ’64 — May 6, 2017.

Save the Date: June 8-10, 2018!

Richard F. Meehan ’65 — June 1, 2017.

Visit fairfield.edu/reunion for more information.

Kent W. Barthelmess ’67 — May 20, 2016.

Gary E. Blow ’70 — April 29, 2017.

John P. Rogowski ’52 — June 13, 2017.

Gregory E. Kelly ’70 — June 10, 2017.

Joseph F. Caruso ’52 — May 25, 2017.

Peter S. Yaros ’71 — Dec. 19, 2014.

James J. Bacik ’54 — Sept. 17, 2016

Richard C. Fischer Jr. ’72 — June 16, 2017.

Robert F. O’Keefe ’55 — June 3, 2017.

David J. Bergin ’79 — April 16, 2017.

Thomas R. Smarz ’57 — March 23, 2017.

Daniel L. Kearns ’79 — April 10, 2017.

Pedro L. Tagatac ’57 — June 3, 2017.

Richard M. Marano ’82 — April 20, 2017.

Roger Capobianco ’59, CT’71 — April 23, 2017.

Robert M. Sullivan ’84 — June 10, 2017.

Peter J. Negri Jr. ’59, CT’68 — March 29, 2017.

Adam J. Rosowicz ’91 — June 14, 2017.

Paul M. Coughlin ’61 — April 29, 2017.

Anthony Castellon Jr. ’92 — April 12, 2017.

Thomas A. McLaughlin ’62, MA’69 — June 14, 2017.

Shyrl (Slywka) Johnson ’92 — April 2, 2017.

50TH REUNION WEEKEND Class of 1968 save the date for the reunion of a lifetime!

May 18-20, 2018 Visit fairfield.edu/50threunion for more information.

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Leave a Legacy

Education is a Gift. Pass it on.

By including Fairfield University in your will or other estate plan, you can ensure that your love for Fairfield will live on to support generations of future students.

Contact the Office of Planned Giving today!

203-254-4020 • plannedgiving@fairfield.edu www.fairfield.edu/plannedgiving

46 fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

Sarah Piccolomini ’11 and James Keenan ’11 were married on July 16, 2016 in front of more than 40 fellow Stags from the Classes of 1976 to 2018.

Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

* Also listed in Alumni Online Community

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

The Academic & Career Development Center invites alumni to partner with us.

You can help launch Stags into successful careers by posting job and internship opportunities on Stags4Hire, attending Career Fairs, participating in our Job Shadow and Mock Interview programs, and much more!.

Learn how you can give back and support our talented Stags at fairfield.edu/hireastag.

S H A R E YO U R N E W S

Samantha Buck ’15 and David Vigliotta ’15 were married on June 17, 2017.

Share your news! Simply log on to the FREE Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

G R A D U AT E S C H O O L S Anthony Sirianni ’66, MA’68 authored the following books: A Loss of Innocence, The Aftermath: The Road Back, and The Blain Conspiracy.

John J. Killoy MA’63 (GSEAP) — May 3, 2017.

Lois Rinaldi MA’72 has authored The Playbook for Middle School Teachers, published on October 4, 2016 for the Alumni Collection, designed to give new teachers the competitive edge to succeed in their first year of teaching.

Ernest A. DiPietro CT’74 (GSEAP) — April 24, 2017.

In Memoriam Miles J. O’Connor MA’54 (GSEAP) — May 6, 2017.

Edward Holden CT’56 (GSEAP) — Feb. 27, 2017.

Roger Capobianco ’59, CT’71 (GSEAP) — April 23, 2017.

Rosemary (McWeeney) Flynn MA’59 (GSEAP) — April 17, 2017.

Meghanne (Malinowski) ’06 and Jon Fireman are the proud parents of daughter Ella Charlotte, born April 20, 2017.

Share your news! Simply log on to the Alumni Online Community and post your Class Note. Not a member? Registration is easy — www.fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity. Sign up and log on today.

Peter J. Negri Jr. ’59, CT’68 (GSEAP) — March 29, 2017.

Joan M. Quilter MA’60, CT’62 (GSEAP) — June 6, 2017.

Thomas A. McLaughlin ’62, MA’69 (GSEAP) — June 14, 2017.

Sister Margaret Kelleher MA’65 (GSEAP) — Nov. 10, 2016.

Sister E. Lorraine Bilodeau MA’75 (GSEAP) — May 16, 2017.

Sister Mary Michele Croghan MA’75 (GSEAP) — May 13, 2017.

Sister Mary Amalia Menardi SSND MA’75 (GSEAP) — June 13, 2017.

Sister Paul Marie Longo MA’76 (GSEAP) — June 2, 2017.

Jean B. Klein CT’77 (GSEAP) — March 18, 2017.

Barbara (Goossen) Capelle MA’80 (GSEAP) — April 6, 2017.

Caryl Lynn Gautrau MA’89 (GSEAP) — April 10, 2017.

Barbara (Dyson) Papritz MA’96 (GSEAP) — Nov. 19, 2016.

Ruth (Klemm) Goldschmidt MSN’98 (ESN) — April 29, 2017.

Fa i r f i e l d Un i v e r s i t y Mag a z i n e | fal l 2016 47

where creativity and culture come to life

FALL 2017

Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

OCTOBER 19, 8 P.M.

NOVEMBER 10, 8 P.M.

Habib Koité & Bamada

For the full schedule, to preview videos and order tickets, visit quickcenter.com or call the Box Office at 203-254-4010 or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396. Events take place at the Quick Center unless otherwise noted. Join as a Quick Member and enjoy discount ticket prices.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi in What the Day Owes to the Night Breathtaking, gravitydefying dance packed with backflips, head spins, and a transcending emotional intensity. $45, $40 | Quick Member: $30

OCTOBER 13 & 14, 8 P.M.

UPSIDE DOWN INSIDE OUT The Quick’s Opening Season Party Are you ready for this? Be turned INSIDE OUT AND UPSIDE DOWN with an evening that celebrates the arts. Ticket price includes open bar and treats. $125 | Quick Member: $100

OCTOBER 29, 3 P.M.

All in the Family: Orin Grossman, Jerry Grossman, and Korliss Uecker An astounding afternoon of classical music with Schubert, Brahms, and more. $35, $30 | Quick Member: $22 NOVEMBER 5, 3 P.M.

Eddie Palmieri Eddie at 80 celebrates this living legend of Latin jazz with his world famous band. $60, $50 | Quick Member: $38

Fill your soul and groove to the beats as we welcome this modern troubadour and guitarist hailing from Mali. $40, $35 | Quick Member: $27

Global Theatre: A Performance Series WHITE/BOYS/BLACK/GIRLS Curated by Dr. Megan Lewis, theatre scholar at UMass, Amherst In an ever-dividing world where identity lines are drawn in broad strokes of “black” and “white,” this international curation brings together two powerful artistic voices from South Africa to explore race, sexuality, gender, and identity in our contemporary world.

Additional programming takes place in the spring.

SEPTEMBER 30, 8 P.M. OCTOBER 1, 3 P.M.

WORLD PREMIERE Iain “Ewok” Robinson This spoken word artist, rapper, and activist uses hip-hop practice to galvanize communities around social justice issues in his new work UNENTITLED. $25 | Quick Member: $18

21st Century Women and Ancient Greek Tragedy Curated by Fairfield University faculty members, Martha S. LoMonaco, PhD, Katherine A. Schwab, PhD, and Sara Brill, PhD.

Compagnie Hervé Koubi

Sponsored, in part, by the Humanities Institute, the series will study some of the most captivating figures in western drama – Antigone, Iphigenia, and Medea, and

Eddie Palmieri

their impact on contemporary culture. Learn more about the many free events taking place by visiting quickcenter.com.

OCTOBER 25-28, 8 P.M. OCTOBER 28-29, 2 P.M.

Theatre Fairfield and Antigone: Sophokles’s Antigone, in a new translation by Anne Carson Directed by Dr. Martha S. LoMonaco, Theatre Fairfield. $15 | $5 Fairfield University students

Family Fun Series Join us after each performance for juice and cookies!

OCTOBER 15, 3 P.M.

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia in Guess How Much I Love You & I Love My Little Storybook These beloved childhood stories come to life with whimsical puppetry, dreamlike imagery, and original music. $20 | Quick Member: $15

Open VISIONS Forum

The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

SEPTEMBER 28, 8 P.M.

Learn more by joining us before select broadcasts for discussions led by Fairfield University professors as well as distinguished community members. Reserved Seating.

Single Tickets: $30, $25 seniors, $5 children/students.

Acting and Resisting! An Evening with Artist, Actor, and Activist Mark Ruffalo $35 | Quick Member: $27 Private Dinner Reception with Mark Ruffalo, 6:30 – 7:30 P.M. Single $150, Couple $250 (includes ticket to OVF lecture).

OCTOBER 4, 8 P.M.

OVF Espresso: Richard E. Hyman Frogmen: My Journeys with Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the Crew of Calypso Event is free and open to Quick Members and OVF Subscribers.

NOVEMBER 15, 8 P.M.

Father Patrick Desbois A Voice of Conscience: Uncovering Mass Murder from the Holocaust to Today The 20th Annual JacobyLunin Humanitarian Lectureship, in Affiliation with the Carl & Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies Father Patrick Desbois, a Catholic priest and professor, has devoted his life to awakening the world’s attention to mass genocide. $35 | Quick Member: $27

OCTOBER 7, 1 P.M. (LIVE) & 6 P.M. (ENCORE) 12:15 P.M. PRE-TALK WITH JEFFREY JOHNSON

Norma (Bellini) OCTOBER 28, 1 P.M. & 6 P.M. (ENCORES)

Die Zauberflöte (Mozart) NOVEMBER 19, 1 P.M. & 6 P.M. (ENCORES) 12:15 P.M. PRE-TALK WITH JEFFREY JOHNSON

The Exterminating Angel (Adès)

The Fairfield University Art Museum An essential academic and cultural resource for students, faculty, and residents of the surrounding geographic community and region, the Fairfield University Art Museum (FUAM) offers opportunities for first-hand experience of original works of art and their unique historical resonance.

The FUAM is free and open to the public. For more information and to register for events, please visit: Fairfield.edu/museum.

Picturing History: Ledger Drawings of the Plains Indians

Thomas J. Walsh Gallery Open Wed. – Sat., Noon – 4 P.M.

Bellarmine Hall Galleries

SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 – FEBRUARY 3, 2018

Open Tues. – Fri., 11 A.M. 4 P.M. and select Saturdays

Richard Lytle: A Retrospective Richard Lytle (American, b.

1935) has been exhibiting his work internationally since the mid-1950s. He attended the Cooper Union and graduated from Yale University with a BFA in 1957 and Yale College of Art with an MFA in 1960.

Mastery of color is a hallmark of Lytle’s work, which ranges from realist to abstraction, and which has always found its inspiration in the organic world. This exhibition includes early charcoal drawings from the 1960s Nude Figures Series, a selection of Pod Series drawings from the 1970s, as well as large oil paintings spanning the breadth of Lytle’s career.

SEPTEMBER 27 – DECEMBER 20, 2017

Picturing History: Ledger Drawings of the Plains Indians In the second half of the nineteenth century, artists from the Plains Indian peoples (Lakota, Cheyenne, Arapaho and others dwelling in the Western United States and Canada) produced an extraordinarily rich and distinctive body of drawings chronicling battles, rituals, and winsome if sometimes jarring events of everyday life.

Known as Ledger Drawings because they were done on the pages of commercially produced account books, these striking images, many bearing pictographic signatures, are executed in ink, graphite, and colored pencil and watercolor.

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Fairfieldmagazine UNIVERSITY

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid

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Burlington, VT 05401 Permit No. 229

1073 North Benson Road Fairfield, Connecticut 06824-5195 Address Service Requested

HAVE A POWERFUL INFLUENCE ON FAIRFIELD STUDENTS BE A JOB SHADOW MENTOR DURING WINTER BREAK! DECEMBER 19, 2017 - JANUARY 19, 2018 “I received a job offer with WebMD and I am extremely excited to start working there. I owe it all to the Academic & Career Development Center for setting up such a great program.”

– Meghan Reilly ’17

iv fall 2 017 | Fairfie l d Un i ve rs it y M aga z in e

The WebMD Job Shadow visit was organized by Jessica Estrada ’15, sales operations analyst.

Pictured (l-r): Meghan Reilly ’17, Jessica Estrada ’15 and Jennifer Arias ’18.

TO APPLY AND FIND OUT MORE, VISIT: fairfield.edu/jobshadow